Patents by Inventor William A. Chambers
William A. Chambers 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: 7136042Abstract: A display controller that permits more than one display to be operated by a single cable and a single display adapter. The display controller provides custom EDID information to a computer to which it is attached. The custom EDID information may include information about the single virtual display surface provided by all displays, and may include information about each of the individual monitors or displays, including the location of the individual displays in the single composite display surface. The single composite display surface may be utilized by computers that are not capable of recognizing the EDID for the multiple display system. If the computer does recognize the EDID for the multiple display system, the operating system of the computer and/or applications running on the computer may understand and utilize the heterogeneous nature of the display surface and may optimize display quality and presentation for a user.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2002Date of Patent: November 14, 2006Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Chad L. Magendanz, William J. Westerinen, Dawson Yee, William Chambers Powell, III
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Publication number: 20050120612Abstract: A fishing lure generally includes a body and a body extension member that extends rearwardly from the body. The body may be in the form of a grub or worm, and the body extension member may be in the form of a tail that extends from the rearward end of the body. Alternatively, the body may be in the form of a crayfish and a pair of body extension members, in the form of arms, may extend from the rearward end of the body. The body extension member includes first, second, and third portions. The first portion extends away from the body, and the second portion connects to the first portion. The third portion connects to the second portion and extends generally toward the body. The third portion includes a forwardly facing inner edge that may be linear, and the first and third portions preferably cooperate to form an acute angle.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 17, 2005Publication date: June 9, 2005Inventor: William Chambers
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Publication number: 20040150581Abstract: A monitor having multiple displays within the same housing. The displays may be, for example, separate LCD panels that are placed in close proximity to one another so as to give the appearance of a single, large display. At least two of the displays may be treated by a computer connected to the monitor as a single display. A display controller divides a single frame of information that is provided by a display adapter of the computer into display information for multiple displays. By using the multiple display controller, the multiple display monitor may have more displays or panels than the number of cables linking the monitor to a computer. The special display controller also does not require a graphics card for each display. A three panel or display monitor is provided in which a central, centered work area display is framed by two side panels or displays.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2003Publication date: August 5, 2004Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventors: William J. Westerinen, William Chambers Powell
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Publication number: 20040080482Abstract: A display controller that permits more than one display to be operated by a single cable and a single display adapter. The display controller provides custom EDID information to a computer to which it is attached. The custom EDID information may include information about the single virtual display surface provided by all displays, and may include information about each of the individual monitors or displays, including the location of the individual displays in the single composite display surface. The single composite display surface may be utilized by computers that are not capable of recognizing the EDID for the multiple display system. If the computer does recognize the EDID for the multiple display system, the operating system of the computer and/or applications running on the computer may understand and utilize the heterogeneous nature of the display surface and may optimize display quality and presentation for a user.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2002Publication date: April 29, 2004Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventors: C. L. Magendanz, William J. Westerinen, Dawson Yee, William Chambers Powell
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Patent number: 6349900Abstract: An actuator system (10, 100, 200) for use in an aircraft control or operating system, comprising a controller (12) operable in response to an input for generating a control signal, and an electrical actuator (20) responsive to the control signal for operating an aircraft flight control surface or other aircraft apparatus. A tab (24; 124) for aerodynamically assisting the electrical actuator is also provided in order to reduce the load on the electrical actuator in use.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2000Date of Patent: February 26, 2002Assignee: BAE Systems plcInventors: Andrew E. Uttley, Peter William Chambers, Nigel Blackwell, Brian Weller
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Patent number: 6292194Abstract: A method for still image compression reduces pixel and texture memory requirements in graphics rendering and other applications. The image compression method divides an image into blocks and stores a quantization index (QIndex) for each block that reflects the level of quantization applied to the block. The QIndex is an index into a table of QFactors. The method performs an invertable transform on a block to generate coefficients for spatial frequency components in the block. It then quantizes coefficients in the block by dividing them by the QFactor in the table corresponding to the QIndex for the block. The QIndex enables the compression ratio of an image to vary across blocks and within each block. A control structure associated with the image stores a pointer to each of the blocks in an image. This control structure allows each block to be accessed and decompressed independently.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 1999Date of Patent: September 18, 2001Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventor: William Chambers Powell, III
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Patent number: 6055602Abstract: A logical positioning mechanism is provided within a storage controller, thus enabling the storage controller to determine which logical position in a storage device is to be accessed next. The logical positioning mechanism includes one or more logical position indicators defined, maintained and controlled by the storage controller. The logical position indicators include the address of the logical position to be next accessed and are incremented and decremented by the storage controller depending upon the operation accessing the logical position.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 1998Date of Patent: April 25, 2000Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: James Elkins McIlvain, William Chambers Shepard
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Patent number: 6008820Abstract: A gsprite engine circuit reads a display list identifying gsprite image layers to be composited for display, retrieves gsprite image data from an external memory, and transforms the gsprite data to display device coordinates. The gsprite image layers represent independently rendered graphical objects in a graphics scene. The gsprite engine can simulate the motion of the graphical objects in a sequence of display images by performing affine transformations on the gsprite image layers. The interface to the gsprite engine circuit includes the display list and gsprite header blocks. The display list enumerates the gsprites to be composited as a display image. The header blocks describe a gsprite transform, which can be an affine transform, used to transform gsprites to display device coordinates. The header blocks also provide an array of references to image blocks or "chunks" comprising the gsprite.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 1996Date of Patent: December 28, 1999Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Joseph W. Chauvin, Steven A. Gabriel, Howard Good, Kent E. Griffin, William Chambers Powell, III, George Easton Scott, III, Michael A. Toelle, John G. Torborg, Jr., James E. Veres
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Patent number: 5999189Abstract: A method for supporting image compression in a real-time graphics rendering pipeline includes sorting object geometry for a scene among image regions called chunks. The object geometry for each chunk is rendered separately, and in a serial fashion. After the object geometry is completely rendered for a given chunk, the pixel data for that chunk is compressed and stored. Each chunk of an image can be generated and stored in this manner. To assemble a display image, compressed image chunks are retrieved, decompressed, and temporarily cached. Decompressed image data in the cache is combined into a display image. The process of generating a display image with compression can be performed at real-time rates.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 1996Date of Patent: December 7, 1999Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: James T. Kajiya, Steven A. Gabriel, William Chambers Powell, III
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Patent number: 5936616Abstract: A display controller, implemented in software or hardware, maintains the primary display image visible on a computer monitor in compressed subregions or chunks. The controller emulates a conventional frame buffer by making the compressed image appear as if it has a linear address space. Most of the image is compressed and the remainder is selectively decompressed and cached to satisfy read and write requests. To display the image, the controller decompresses the display image's constituent subregions and buffers the decompressed data so that it can be scanned out to a display monitor.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 1996Date of Patent: August 10, 1999Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: John G. Torborg, Jr., James E. Veres, Om Kumar Sharma, George Easton Scott, III, William Chambers Powell, III
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Patent number: 5933535Abstract: Video encoding and decoding processes provide compression and decompression of digitized video signals representing display motion in video sequences of multiple image frames. The encoder process utilizes object- or feature-based video compression to improve the accuracy and versatility of encoding interframe motion and intraframe image features. Video information is compressed relative to objects or features of arbitrary configurations, rather than fixed, regular arrays of pixels as in conventional video compression methods. This reduces the error components and thereby improves the compression efficiency and accuracy. The decoder process decompresses the encoded video information to reconstruct the objects or features of arbitrary configurations.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 1996Date of Patent: August 3, 1999Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Ming-Chieh Lee, William Chambers Powell, III
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Patent number: 5886701Abstract: A graphics rendering chip serially renders a stream of geometric primitives to image regions called chunks. A set-up processor in the chip parses rendering commands and the stream of geometric primitives and computes edge equation parameters. A scan-convert processor receives the edge equation parameters from the set-up processor and scan converts the geometric primitives to produce pixel records and fragment records. An internal, double-buffered pixel buffer stores pixel records for fully covered pixel addresses and also stores references to fragment lists stored in a fragment buffer. A pixel engine performs hidden surface removal and controls storage of pixel and fragment records to the pixel and fragment buffers, respectively. An anti-aliasing engine resolves pixel data for one pixel buffer while the pixel engine fills the other pixel buffer with pixel data for the next chunk.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 1996Date of Patent: March 23, 1999Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Joseph W. Chauvin, Steven A. Gabriel, Howard Good, Kent E. Griffin, Mark L. Kenworthy, William Chambers Powell, III, George Easton Scott, III, Michael A. Toelle, John G. Torborg, Jr., James E. Veres
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Patent number: 5870537Abstract: A disaster recovery system providing remote data shadowing between a primary and a secondary site uses a method and apparatus for swapping, or switching, host directed I/O operations from a primary data storage device to a secondary data storage device in a remote copy duplex pair. Application programs running in a host processor at the primary site first quiesce all I/O operations and record updates targeted to the primary data storage device. The remote copy duplex pair is checked to verify that the secondary data storage device is a fully synchronized copy of the primary data storage device.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 1996Date of Patent: February 9, 1999Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Robert Frederic Kern, Michael Aloysius Paulsen, William Chambers Shepard, Harry Morris Yudenfriend
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Patent number: 5765200Abstract: A logical positioning mechanism is provided within a storage controller, thus enabling the storage controller to determine which logical position in a storage device is to be accessed next. The logical positioning mechanism includes one or more logical position indicators defined, maintained and controlled by the storage controller. The logical position indicators include the address of the logical position to be next accessed and are incremented and decremented by the storage controller depending upon the operation accessing the logical position.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 1997Date of Patent: June 9, 1998Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: James Elkins McIlvain, William Chambers Shepard
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Patent number: 5745552Abstract: A line communication system for linking a plurality of telephone subscribers to a public telephone exchange, wherein the subscribers are each located within the same general area, and wherein each subscriber is fed from the same mains electricity sub-station with mains electricity is provided. The line communication system provides subscriber apparatus which includes a cordless telephone (CT) handset and a frequency convertor for each subscriber. The handset is hard-wired to the mains electricity supply conductors via the frequency convertor so that CT signals at UHF are down-converted to HF for transmission through the mains electricity conductors. A CT base station is connected to the public telephone exchange. The CT base station is connected to the mains electricity supply conductors via a further frequency convertor for HF line communication purposes.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 1995Date of Patent: April 28, 1998Assignee: GPT LimitedInventors: Gordon William Chambers, Alexander Schroder Philip
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Patent number: 4598740Abstract: A wire-wrap gun is provided with a visual display unit to assist the operator by displaying the addresses of the points which have to be electrically connected.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 1983Date of Patent: July 8, 1986Inventors: Frederick Sloan, William Chambers
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Patent number: 4235676Abstract: An elongated tube is maintained at a temperature of about 1100.degree. F. throughout its length. Organic waste material such as shredded rubber automobile tires or industrial plastic waste or residential trash which preferably has metal and inorganic matter removed therefrom, is moved through the tube at a uniform rate of speed in the absence of air and/or oxygen, with the material being churned or tumbled as by means of a screw conveyor. The vapors and gases which are produced and/or liberated within the tube are quickly removed therefrom by means of a vacuum of from about four inches to about six inches of mercury, with the vapors being condensed and the gases separated therefrom. The char or residue which is a black, powdery, carbon-type material is also recovered.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 1977Date of Patent: November 25, 1980Assignee: Deco Industries, Inc.Inventor: R. William Chambers
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Patent number: 4077868Abstract: An elongated tube (preferably stainless steel) is maintained at a temperature of at least about 1000.degree. F. throughout its length. Coal or other carbonaceous feed material is moved through the tube at a uniform rate of speed in the substantial absence of air, with the feed material being constantly churned or turned as by a screw conveyor. The churning of the feed material and the diameter of the tube is such that the material is subjected to "shock" heating, whereby gases and vapors are violently released from the solid mass and are removed therefrom at a vacuum of from about two to about five inches of mercury, with said gases and vapors passing through the aforesaid churning mass. The residue is recovered and the gases and vapors are subsequently passed through conventional condensers and scrubbers to liquify the oil and separate the gases and the water.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 1976Date of Patent: March 7, 1978Assignee: Deco Industries, Inc.Inventor: R. William Chambers
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Patent number: 4050036Abstract: A laser configuration is disclosed wherein the active region is of annular cylindrical form. Zero mode azimuth coupling which produces an output beam of low obscuration ratio in the near field, thereby providing a single lobe in the far field, is achieved by the use of an unstable optical resonator characterized by an annular mirror defining one end of the resonator and a two stage axiconic reflector disposed optically between the opposite ends of the resonator.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 1976Date of Patent: September 20, 1977Assignee: Textron Inc.Inventors: William A. Chambers, Franklin B. Bossler, Warren F. Brandkamp
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Patent number: 3950611Abstract: A video tracking system that produces voltages representative of the location of a designated target relative to the tracking axis of a transducer. An error detector unit compares the position of a target, of selected intensity contrast, to that of a tracking gate and updates the gate position to track the target. The error detector unit includes a combination of two integrators coupled in series with two or more gate circuits that are synchronized with the tracking gate. The tracking response characteristic may be selected for optimum performance with expected target profiles by variation of the relative signal gain and timing of the gate circuits.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 1966Date of Patent: April 13, 1976Assignee: Hughes Aircraft CompanyInventors: James W. Callis, William A. Chambers