Patents by Inventor William To

William 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).

  • Portable food heater
    Patent number: 8481893
    Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention provides a consumer appliance that uses RF energy to heat foods stored in a container that is suitable for RF heating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Ameritherm, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard H. Rosenbloom, Leslie L. Thompson, Santina McKean, William Flanigan, Brian Louis Teachout, Ian Alan Paull
  • Functional anchors connecting graphene-like carbon to metal
    Patent number: 8481421
    Abstract: Functional linkers or anchors interconnecting graphene-like carbon, such as nanotubes or graphite sheets, with a conducting material such as a metal, are shown, together with related structures, devices, methods and systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: William A. Goddard, Weiqiao Deng, Yuki Matsuda
  • Method and apparatus for providing an LED light for use in hazardous locations
    Patent number: 8480249
    Abstract: A lighting source that can be deployed in a hazardous environment is disclosed. For example, the lighting source comprises at least one light emitting diode and a power supply for providing power to the at least one light emitting diode. The lighting source also comprises an enclosure for housing the at least one light emitting diode and the power supply, where said lighting source is for deployment in a hazardous environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Dialight Corporation
    Inventors: John William Curran, John Patrick Peck, Kevin A. Hebborn, William S. Leib, III, Anthony Verdes
  • Method and die for forming a tubular blank into a structural component
    Patent number: 8479552
    Abstract: A component forming system has an induction heating coil for induction heating of a component and a die forming shell for supporting the component and for defining the final shape of the formed product. A support structure for supporting the die forming shell during the induction heating of the component may be formed of a metallic material, and/or may include insulating elements to limit or substantially preclude inducement of electrical current through the support structure during the induction heating process. The die forming shell may be formed of a metallic material and/or may include insulating elements to limit or substantially preclude inducement of electrical current through the support structure during the induction heating process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Temper IP, LLC
    Inventor: William C. Dykstra
  • Push-on hose construction
    Patent number: 8479775
    Abstract: Push-on hose construction for a self-gripping connection with a barbed nipple or other push in fitting end. The hose has an innermost core tube which exhibits a reduced coefficient of friction for easier insertion of the fitting end. Such core tube may be extruded or otherwise formed of thermoplastic polyurethane or other resin which is dulled or otherwise incompatibilized by the addition of an immiscible such as nonpolar polyolefin homopolymer, copolymer, or mixture thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
    Inventors: Michael R. Swails, William C. Fisher, Albert S. Balko, Ronald W. Duescher
  • Interbody spinal implants with extravertebral support plates
    Patent number: 8480747
    Abstract: An implant assembly for a spinal column includes at least a plate and an interbody implant attached to the plate. The interbody implant is positioned in the spinal disc space and the plate extends extradiscally for attachment to the first and second vertebrae outside the disc space. The assembly may include recesses in the bottom surface of the plate, spacers, and spacing portions extending from the bottom surface of the plate that allow the plate to be secured to the interbody implant when the trailing end of the interbody implant is positioned in a recessed, flush or overhanging position relative to the laterally facing surfaces of the vertebrae.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony J. Melkent, Brian Thoren, William Armstrong, Rajesh Remesh
  • Modular laundry system with work surface having a functional insert
    Patent number: 8479542
    Abstract: A modular laundry system comprises at least one laundry appliance with a closed top and a worksurface that extends over the closed top of the at least one laundry appliance and comprises a functional insert provided on the worksurface. The modular laundry system can further comprise a second laundry appliance with a closed top, and the work surface can extend over both laundry appliances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: James William Kendall, Lorraine J. Achterberg, Ameresh Babu Viswanathan
  • Maize variety hybrid X13B617
    Patent number: 8481807
    Abstract: A novel maize variety designated X13B617 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof, produced by crossing Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. proprietary inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprises crossing hybrid maize variety X13B617 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X13B617 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X13B617, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X13B617. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X13B617.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Pioneer Hi Bred International Inc
    Inventors: Terry R. Colbert, William Andrew Wilson, Stephen Michael Dofing
  • Device health monitoring for gaming machines
    Patent number: 8479908
    Abstract: A gaming peripheral for a gaming machine is described. The gaming peripheral can be configured to emulate the functions of a lighting device, such as a candle. The gaming peripheral can be configured to provide enhanced gaming features such as 1) enhanced networking capabilities, 2) enhanced peripheral device monitoring and upgrade capabilities, 3) enhanced player monitoring and security capabilities 4) enhanced gaming function capabilities and 5) enhanced player reward capabilities. The enhanced gaming features can be provided in a non-intrusive manner such that regulated software executed on a gaming machine does not have to be altered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Leap Forward Gaming
    Inventor: William R. Wells
  • Trunnion nose guard
    Patent number: 8479634
    Abstract: A trunnion nose guard is a flanged cylinder having internal threads which allow it to thread onto the outer threads of the trunnion nose of a Browning .50 caliber machine gun. The flange of the trunnion nose guard has a face adapted to fit against the front face of the trunnion or against a shim that is interposed between the trunnion front face and the flange. The flange also has at least one hole for receiving a spring-biased locking pin that may be provided on the trunnion front face. The axial length of the trunnion nose guard is selected so that, in use, the trunnion nose guard protects all of the threads of the trunnion nose, but does not extend substantially beyond the end of the trunnion nose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Inventor: William J. Nemec
  • Corrugated paper reel
    Patent number: 8480024
    Abstract: A collapsible reel having a high strength to weight ratio is provided. The collapsible reel comprises a core, around which a flexible media is wound, and flanges which prevent the wound flexible media from migrating axially off of the core. The core is formed of first and second blanks having hub portions and a plurality of spaced apart tabs projecting from the hub portions. To form the core, the tabs of each blank are folded and the tabs of the first blank are secured to the corresponding tabs of the second blank. The flanges are then adhered to the outer surface of the hub portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Vail Industries Inc.
    Inventor: William J. Ries
  • Harsh environment liquid crystal display (LCD) enclosure
    Patent number: 8482906
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to the field of environmentally sealed casings for protection of electronic or other devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to enclosures for protecting LCD panels from the harsh environments in which they are sometimes used. In an embodiment, the present invention provides a harsh environment LCD enclosure comprising: a casing with an interior for protecting an LCD panel; a door for accessing the interior of the casing; a compression gasket assembly for sealing together the door and casing; an actuator for opening and closing the door; and a hinge assembly disposed entirely within the interior of the casing and operably configured to provide for rotational and linear movement of the door relative to the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: CCS-Inc.
    Inventors: James E. Farley, Jr., William A. Peeples
  • Exit device and method of operating the same
    Patent number: 8480136
    Abstract: An exit device that includes a locking mechanism for locking and unlocking a door, the locking mechanism having a latch bolt, and a link connected to the latch bolt, movement of the link between locked and unlocked positions causes movement of the latch bolt between an extended state and a retracted state to lock and unlock the door, and a motor operably connected to the link. A method of operating the exit device includes operating the motor to move the link in a first direction toward the unlocked position, the motor being operated until the link reaches a hard stop position; thereafter determining a soft stop position based on the hard stop position; and thereafter selectively using the motor to move the link in the first direction toward the unlocked position, the motor being operated only until the link reaches the soft stop position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Von Duprin LLC
    Inventors: William P. Dye, Raymond F. Rettig, William W. Myntti
  • Multi-view debugging
    Patent number: 8484619
    Abstract: Debugging an executing process. A method includes accessing a unique key that is common to two or more different representations of a same function in the process. A runtime for the executing process is annotated with the unique key. The method further includes detecting that the function is executing. The unique key is used to provide an indication in one or more of the two or more different representations that the function is executing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Kushal Shah, William A. Manis, Herry Sutanto, Matthew R. Winkler
  • Compounds as cannabinoid receptor ligands
    Patent number: 8481574
    Abstract: The present invention relates to compounds of formula (I) wherein A, E, L2, R1, R3, R4 and R5 are as defined in the herein, compositions comprising such compounds, and methods of treating conditions and disorders using such compounds and compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Abbott Laboratories
    Inventors: Michael D. Meyer, Michael J. Dart, William A. Carroll, Meena V. Patel, Tedozyi Kolasa, Xueqing Wang
  • Railroad crossing gate height adjustment assembly and method
    Patent number: 8480038
    Abstract: A railroad crossing gate height adjustment assembly and method for establishing or reestablishing a height of the crossing gate of a railroad crossing gate apparatus. The assembly includes an elongated smooth pipe having a smooth exterior surface and a sliding coupling slidably engageable at a lower end along a length of the smooth pipe. A larger, upper end of the sliding coupling is threadably engageable with a coupling previously secured at a lower end of a wiring conduit of the gate apparatus whereby the length of the wiring conduit is adjustably increased by an exposed length of the smooth pipe. A lower end of the smooth pipe has an external thread which is threadably engageable into a threaded hole formed into a top surface of a gate base of the gate apparatus for supportively receiving a lower end of the smooth pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Signal Innovations, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan S. Anderson, William M. McInnes
  • Gaming table with interchangeable layouts
    Patent number: 8480091
    Abstract: A casino gaming table having interchangeable layouts includes a table base and a planar tabletop supported on the base. The tabletop has an upper surface and a peripheral edge, at least a portion of which is arcuately shaped. An arcuately shaped rail is mounted to the tabletop adjacent the arcuately shaped peripheral edge but is spaced from the upper surface of the table. A plurality of game layout pads are provided with arcuate peripheral edges. The pads are adapted to rest on the tabletop with their arcuate peripheral edges fitting under the rail in the space between the rail and the table surface. The game layout pads are rigid enough to substantially maintain their planar shape when being moved into and out of position but can be flexed in order to insert their arcuate peripheral edges into the space between said lower surface of the rail and the upper surface of the tabletop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Inventor: William H. Florence
  • Method and apparatus for demand-based control of processing node performance
    Patent number: 8484498
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for performance control of processing nodes is disclosed. In one embodiment, a system includes a processing node and a power management unit configured to, for each of a plurality of time intervals, monitor an activity level of the processing node, cause the processing node to operate at a high operating point during one successive time interval if the activity level in the given interval is greater than a high activity threshold, operate at a low operating point at least one successive time interval if the activity level is less than a low activity threshold, or enable operating system software to cause the processing node to operate at one of one or more predefined intermediate operating points of the plurality of operating points if the activity level is less than the high activity threshold and greater than the low activity threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices
    Inventors: Alexander Branover, Maurice Steinman, William L. Bircher
  • Calibration of lamps
    Patent number: 8482223
    Abstract: In at least one embodiment, a lamp includes a controller configured to generate power control signals for a lamp is also configured to receive lamp calibration data received via one or more power terminals of the lamp. The controller is configured to process the calibration data to calibrate the lamp. In at least one embodiment, the lamp includes one or more light emitting diodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: William A. Draper, Robert T. Grisamore, John L. Melanson
  • Knowledge discovery appliance
    Patent number: 8484217
    Abstract: Methods and systems for collecting and processing large volumes of data to determine the relevancy and value thereof comprise: deploying one or more data retrieval modules to interface with one or more data sources within the local network, wherein the one or more data retrieval modules comprise executable program code; executing the one or more data retrieval modules to perform operations comprising: accessing application data representing data stored or communicated through the one or more data sources; and forwarding the application data for analysis; and analyzing the forwarded application data to determine whether it is relevant to the topic, wherein the analyzing is performed by one or more devices within the local network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: QINETIQ North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Manoj Kumar Srivastava, William Andrews Walker, Eric Alexander Olson, Steven Robert Smith