Patents by Inventor William C To

William C To 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).

  • Lubricants That Decrease Micropitting for Industrial Gears
    Publication number: 20090093384
    Abstract: The invention relates to an industrial gear formulation containing a high TBN overbased detergent that results in decreasing micropitting for industrial gears.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2007
    Publication date: April 9, 2009
    Applicant: The Lubrizol Corporation
    Inventors: William C. Ward, Brian M. O'Connor, James N. Vinci
  • DELAY LOCKED LOOP FOR AN FPGA ARCHITECTURE
    Publication number: 20090094475
    Abstract: A DLL provides a deskew mode for aligning a reference clock that passes through a clock distribution tree to a feedback by adding additional delay to the feedback clock to align the feedback clock with reference clock at one cycle later. A 0 ns clock-to-out mode is provided by adding additional delay to account for an input buffer into a feedback path. The feedback clock can be doubled by a clock doubler with 50% duty cycle adjustment disposed in the feedback path. Flexible timing is aligning the reference clock to the feedback clock is obtained with additional delay elements disposed in the feedback and reference clock paths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Publication date: April 9, 2009
    Applicant: ACTEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: William C. Plants, Nikhil Mazumder, Arunangshu Kundu, James Joseph, Wayne W. Wong
  • GASSING INSULATOR ASSEMBLY, AND CONDUCTOR ASSEMBLY AND ELECTRICAL SWITCHING APPARATUS EMPLOYING THE SAME
    Publication number: 20090090698
    Abstract: A gassing insulator assembly for a line conductor assembly of an electrical switching apparatus is provided having a line conductor and first and second gassing insulator members. The insulator members are constructed from a gassing material. The first gassing insulator member is disposed near a first end of the line conductor and the second gassing insulator member is generally disposed between the line conductor and a cantilevered arc runner near a second end of the line conductor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2007
    Publication date: April 9, 2009
    Inventors: John J. Shea, Nathan J. Weister, William C. Pollitt, David M. Olszewski, James R. Schachner, Ronald W. Brand
  • Archery release aid light apparatus
    Publication number: 20090090342
    Abstract: A small, light-weight, portable lighting device that attaches to an archery release aid providing sufficient illumination to assist the archer in attaching the release aid to the bowstring or loop and/or the arrow to the nocking position of the bowstring is provided. The light apparatus has a housing, a power supply, a button and a lighting device. The housing has a first outer wall component and a second outer wall component, with each of the first and second outer wall components attached to one another. The housing has an interior cavity, and a first aperture and a second aperture. The power supply is preferably located inside the housing. The button is preferably depressable, and is retained in the cavity, with the button being visible through the first aperture. Preferably the button projects through the first aperture, and the lighting device projects through the second aperture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Publication date: April 9, 2009
    Inventors: William C. Freitag, Eric Braden
  • DROPPED CEILING FAN HOUSING
    Publication number: 20090092488
    Abstract: A modular ceiling fan housing unit designed to create a focused column or columns of downwardly moving air such that there is little deflection when the column or columns of downwardly moving air arrives at the ground level. The modular ceiling fan housing includes an elongated body element having a fluid impelling device to create the downwardly moving air. At least one plate disposed within the elongated body element directs the downwardly moving air into columns. The modular ceiling fan housing unit may be coupled to another modular ceiling fan housing unit to provide additional columns of downwardly moving air. The modular ceiling fan housing units may be coupled in various configurations, depending on the type of application. Furthermore, the modular ceiling fan housing unit or multiple modular fan housing units may be coupled to an elevated structure located either above or below the housing units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2008
    Publication date: April 9, 2009
    Inventor: William C. Weaver
  • Manufactured Seed Having Packing Material
    Publication number: 20090090050
    Abstract: A manufactured seed is provided. The manufactured seed includes a seed shell housing a nutritive media and a restraint disposed within the seed shell. The restraint includes a cavity. The manufactured seed also includes an embryo disposed within the cavity and a fill material disposed within the cavity. The manufactured further includes a seal disposed on the seed shell to seal the embryo within the seed shell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Publication date: April 9, 2009
    Applicant: Weyerhaeuser Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey E. Hartle, William C. Carlson, Antony R. Shoaf
  • Method for natural gas production
    Patent number: 7513306
    Abstract: A method of dissociating methane hydrate deposits in-situ is provided in which a supply of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and fuel are provided, the oxygen and the carbon dioxide are mixed to form an oxidizer fluid, and the fuel is combusted downhole by reacting it with the oxidizer fluid to provide hot combustion products. The combustion products are placed in contact with a diluent fluid to produce a cooled product fluid at a temperature higher than the prevailing methane hydrate decomposition temperature. The cooled product fluid is injected into the methane hydrate deposit decomposing the hydrate and releasing natural gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Precision Combustion, Inc.
    Inventor: William C. Pfefferle
  • Clear-view sun visor
    Patent number: 7513560
    Abstract: A sun visor that includes a clear base portion and a small shade portion that can be selectively moved to block only the sun depending on its orientation. In one embodiment, the shade portion is manually movable relative to the base portion. In another embodiment, the shade portion is automatically moved relative to the base portion by an actuator. A controller calculates the vehicle heading and the sun-incident angle to determine the proper position of the shade portion. A switch can be used to switch the actuator on when the visor is in the down position. In an alternate embodiment, the shade portion is replaced with electro-chromic elements mounted to the base portion that are controlled to selectively block the sunlight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventor: William C. Lin
  • Silo contents measurement system
    Patent number: 7515095
    Abstract: An antenna for a level sensing gauge comprises an environmentally sealed chamber extending from the level sensing gauge and mounting and positionable within the interior of a storage compartment, including a breathable aperture for permitting pressure and humidity equalization between the interior of said chamber and an exterior environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Ohmart/VEGA Corporation
    Inventors: Neil T. Wilkie, Douglas A. Groh, Christopher P. Lewis, William C. Gable
  • Ambulatory energy transfer system for an implantable medical device and method therefore
    Patent number: 7515967
    Abstract: An external power system, system and method for transcutaneous energy transfer to an implantable medical device having componentry for providing a therapeutic output and a secondary coil operatively coupled to the componentry. The implantable medical device is adapted to implanted at a location in a patient. An external power source has a primary coil contained in a housing. The external power source is capable of providing energy to the implantable medical device when the primary coil of the external power source is placed in proximity of the secondary coil of the implantable medical device. A holder is adapted to be externally positioned with respect to the patient at a spot in proximity of the location of the implantable medical device and secured at the spot. The holder is attachable to the housing after the holder is secured to the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: William C. Phillips, David P. Olson, Mark E. Schommer, Andrew L. Schmeling, Michael J. Elvidge
  • Biosensors, communicators, and controllers monitoring eye movement and methods for using them
    Patent number: 7515054
    Abstract: Biosensor, communicator, and/or controller apparatus, systems, and methods are provided for monitoring movement of a person's eye. The apparatus includes a device configured to be worn on a user's head, a light source for directing light towards one or both eyes of the user, one or more image guides on the device for viewing one or both eyes of the user, and one or more cameras carried on the device and coupled to the image guides for acquiring images of the eyes and/or the user's surroundings. The apparatus may include a cable and/or a transmitter for transmitting image data from the camera to a remote location, e.g., to processor and/or display for analyzing and/or displaying the image data. A system including the apparatus may be used to monitor one or more oculometric parameters, e.g., pupillary response, and/or to control a computer using the user's eyes instead of a mouse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Inventor: William C. Torch
  • Field programmable gate array and microcontroller system-on-a-chip
    Patent number: 7516303
    Abstract: A system-on-a-chip integrated circuit has a field programmable gate array core having logic clusters, static random access memory modules, and routing resources, a field programmable gate array virtual component interface translator having inputs and outputs, wherein the inputs are connected to the field programmable gate array core, a microcontroller, a microcontroller virtual component interface translator having input and outputs, wherein the inputs are connected to the microcontroller, a system bus connected to the outputs of the field programmable gate array virtual component interface translator and also to the outputs of said microcontroller virtual component interface translator, and direct connections between the microcontroller and the routing resources of the field programmable gate array core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Actel Corporation
    Inventors: Arunangshu Kundu, Arnold Goldfein, William C. Plants, David Hightower
  • METHODS OF LOCATING AND TRACKING ROBOTIC INSTRUMENTS IN ROBOTIC SURGICAL SYSTEMS
    Publication number: 20090088773
    Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, a method is disclosed to locate a robotic instrument in the field of view of a camera. The method includes capturing sequential images in a field of view of a camera. The sequential images are correlated between successive views. The method further includes receiving a kinematic datum to provide an approximate location of the robotic instrument and then analyzing the sequential images in response to the approximate location of the robotic instrument. An additional method for robotic systems is disclosed. Further disclosed is a method for indicating tool entrance into the field of view of a camera.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2007
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Applicant: Intuitive Surgical, Inc.
    Inventors: Wenyi Zhao, Christopher J. Hasser, William C. Nowlin, Brian D. Hoffman
  • Portable Stand for Power Tool
    Publication number: 20090085325
    Abstract: A portable stand for a work tool is provided. The portable stand includes a rigid member with a longitudinal axis and a connector configured to be releasably mounted to a vehicle. A first post extends from the rigid member and a frame is rotatably connected with the first post and fixable with respect to the first post in a plurality of discrete positions. A mounting bracket is lockingly engageable with the frame and configured to fixedly support a work tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Inventors: Robert E. McCracken, Scott Bettencourt, Wade F. Burch, William C. Buck, Thomas Parel, Andrew Valentine, James A. Keith, JR.
  • METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR ROBOTIC INSTRUMENT TOOL TRACKING
    Publication number: 20090088897
    Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, a method for a robotic system is disclosed to track one or more robotic instruments. The method includes generating kinematics information for the robotic instrument within a field of view of a camera; capturing image information in the field of view of the camera; and adaptively fusing the kinematics information and the image information together to determine pose information of the robotic instrument. Additionally disclosed is a robotic medical system with a tool tracking sub-system. The tool tracking sub-system receives raw kinematics information and video image information of the robotic instrument to generate corrected kinematics information for the robotic instrument by adaptively fusing the raw kinematics information and the video image information together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2007
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Applicant: Intuitive Surgical, Inc.
    Inventors: Wenyi Zhao, Christopher J. Hasser, William C. Nowlin, Brian D. Hoffman
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING DEBUG EVENTS
    Publication number: 20090089547
    Abstract: A system has a pipelined processor for executing a plurality of instructions by sequentially fetching, decoding, executing and writing results associated with execution of each instruction. Debug circuitry is coupled to the pipelined processor for monitoring execution of the instructions to determine when a debug event occurs. The debug circuitry generates a debug exception to interrupt instruction processing flow. The debug circuitry has control circuitry for indicating a number of instructions, if any, that complete instruction execution between an instruction that caused the debug event and a point in instruction execution when the exception is taken.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Inventor: William C. Moyer
  • CHILD RESTRAINT APPARATUS FOR A VEHICLE
    Publication number: 20090085385
    Abstract: A child restraint apparatus connectable to a vehicle and having a chassis with a back portion and a seat portion. A U-shaped guard is pivotally connected to the chassis so as to be movable between an up position and a down position, in the down position the guard forming a frontal and lateral barrier around the child. A seat member of appropriate size is detachably connected to the seat portion of the chassis. A harness assembly is connected to the seat member. The harness assembly comprises a retractor assembly connected to the seat member and a torso strap having a lower end fixed to the retractor and a pair of upper ends connectable to a helmet via a latch assembly connected to the helmet. The helmet is adjustabty connected to the chassis and has a rigid shell shaped to extend about at least a portion the head of the child.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Inventors: John A. Harcourt, William C. Aven, William P. Munsell
  • Method of Preparing a Material for an Artificial Seed
    Publication number: 20090088552
    Abstract: A method of preparing a material for use in a manufactured seed is provided. The method includes providing the material having a melting temperature. The method also includes subjecting the material to a heat treatment at a temperature about 10% below the melting temperature for a predetermined period of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Applicant: Weyerhaeuser Company
    Inventors: William C. Carlson, Antony R. Shoaf, Randy L. Eatherton
  • TOOL TRACKING SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR IMAGE GUIDED SURGERY
    Publication number: 20090088634
    Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, a tool tracking system is disclosed including a computer usable medium having computer readable program code to receive images of video frames from at least one camera and to perform image matching of a robotic instrument to determine video pose information of the robotic instrument within the images. The tool tracking system further includes computer readable program code to provide a state-space model of a sequence of states of corrected kinematics information for accurate pose information of the robotic instrument. The state-space model receives raw kinematics information of mechanical pose information and adaptively fuses the mechanical pose information and the video pose information together to generate the sequence of states of the corrected kinematics information for the robotic instrument. Additionally disclosed are methods for image guided surgery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2007
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Applicant: Intuitive Surgical, Inc.
    Inventors: Wenyi Zhao, Christopher J. Hasser, William C. Nowlin, Brian D. Hoffman
  • Sacrificial inner shroud liners for gas turbine engines
    Patent number: 7510369
    Abstract: A split shroud system for a gas turbine engine having a pair of annular-shaped shrouds that each have an inner pocket; to form a pair of inner pockets. Each of the pair of pockets having liner parts that form a circle. Liner parts of one of the pair of pockets facing liner parts of the other of the pair of pockets to form liner part pairs. One of each of said of pair of liner parts has a mutual abutting surface that forms a plurality of slots for accepting a plurality of vane inner trunnions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: William C Lytle