David L Clifton

US Patent:

6777823, Aug 17, 2004

Filed:

May 21, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/861739

Inventors:

Gail Roberts - Arvada CO
Philip Keene - Littleton CO
David Lowe - Lakewood CO
James Hunt - Lakewood CO
Joseph F. Pinkerton - Austin TX
David B. Clifton - Leander TX

Assignee:

Active Power, Inc. - Austin TX

International Classification:

H02K 718

US Classification:

290 52, 290 30 R, 290 40 C, 322 10

Abstract:

A continuous power system assembly is provided that includes an integrated shaft-driven unit. The unit contains a turbine, an alternator, a flywheel and a feed pump, all of which are coupled to the shaft. During various modes of operation, any of the turbine, alternator or flywheel may provide the torque used to drive the shaft. When the alternator is not providing the necessary torque to drive the shaft, it is operated as a generator that provides back-up power to a load. The present invention also includes a unique nozzle design that improves the ease with the nozzles may be manufactured in comparison to known designs. The nozzle is manufactured as two halves which are mated as part of the manufacturing process. The individual nozzles may, because only half of the nozzle segments exist on either half of the nozzle block, be easily manufactured using conventional machining.

US Patent:

55722466, Nov 5, 1996

Filed:

Jun 7, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/486511

Inventors:

Michael D. Ellis - Boulder CO
Stephen M. Dunn - Boulder CO
Michael W. Fellinger - Boulder CO
Fancy B. Younglove - Boulder CO
David M. James - Fort Collins CO
David L. Clifton - Boulder CO
Richard S. Land - Lafayette CO

Assignee:

The Arbitron Company - Columbia MD

International Classification:

H04N 1700
H04N 1704

US Classification:

348 2

Abstract:

Signatures are produced for characterizing an interval of a video signal representing a picture for use in broadcast segment recognition. The signature is produced based on portions of the video signal representing corresponding regions of the picture each spaced by a certain amount from a nominal edge of the picture. A shift in the video signal corresponding with a shift in the edge of the picture from a nominal edge of the picture is detected. The portions of the video signal are adjusted to compensate for the shift in the edge of the picture and a signature is produced based on the adjusted portions of the video signal.

US Patent:

55045189, Apr 2, 1996

Filed:

Jun 7, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/474248

Inventors:

Michael D. Ellis - Boulder CO
Stephen M. Dunn - Boulder CO
Michael W. Fellinger - Boulder CO
Fancy B. Younglove - Boulder CO
David M. James - Fort Collins CO
David L. Clifton - Boulder CO
Richard S. Land - Lafayette CO

Assignee:

The Arbitron Company - Columbia MD

International Classification:

H04N 1700
H04N 1704

US Classification:

348 2

Abstract:

The broadcast audio signal and/or the broadcast video signal of a monitored broadcast are temporarily stored and predetermined signal events are detected which indicate possible new broadcast segments of interest of the monitored broadcast. Intervals of the monitored broadcast are selected as possible new broadcast segments of interest based on the predetermined signal events. A first capture level is assigned to a first selected interval based on predetermined characteristics of the interval which indicate that it is likely to be a new segment of interest. A second capture level is assigned to a second selected interval based on predetermined characteristics of that interval which indicate that it is relatively less likely than the first selected interval to be a new segment of interest. A signature corresponding with the first selected interval is stored in the database and the temporarily stored broadcast audio and/or video signals which correspond with the first selected interval are captured for transmission to a workstation operator for segment identification. A signature corresponding with the second selected interval is stored in the database and the temporarily stored broadcast audio and/or video signals which correspond with the second selected interval are erased.

US Patent:

54366534, Jul 25, 1995

Filed:

Apr 30, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/876578

Inventors:

Michael D. Ellis - Boulder CO
Stephen M. Dunn - Boulder CO
Michael W. Fellinger - Boulder CO
Fancy B. Younglove - Boulder CO
David M. James - Fort Collins CO
David L. Clifton - Boulder CO
Richard S. Land - Lafayette CO

Assignee:

The Arbitron Company - Columbia MD

International Classification:

H04N 1700
H04N 1704

US Classification:

348 2

Abstract:

Broadcast segment recognition systems and methods are provided in which a signature representing a monitored broadcast segment is compared with broadcast segment signatures in a data base representing known broadcast segments to determine whether a match exists. Criteria for determining the validity of such a match are provided. In addition, signatures characterizing respective intervals of a broadcast signal exhibiting correlation are produced by generating a difference vector for each respective interval and carrying out vector transformations of the different vectors to reduce such correlation. Also, a broadcast segment recognition data base is updated by monitoring a broadcast signal to detect signal events indicating possible broadcast segments of interest in which at least two alternative segments of interest are detected by assigning priority to one of the two segments based upon predetermined criteria. A signature characterizing a broadcast signal interval is produced including a plurality of digital words each characterizing a respective sub-interval thereof by selecting at least one such digital word based on predetermined digital word distribution criteria, match probability and a degree of signal difference between the respective sub-interval and adjacent portions of the signal.

US Patent:

56127294, Mar 18, 1997

Filed:

Jun 7, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/475779

Inventors:

Michael D. Ellis - Boulder CO
Stephen M. Dunn - Boulder CO
Michael W. Fellinger - Boulder CO
Fancy B. Younglove - Boulder CO
David M. James - Fort Collins CO
David L. Clifton - Boulder CO
Richard S. Land - Lafayette CO

Assignee:

The Arbitron Company - Columbia MD

International Classification:

H04N 1700
H04N 1704

US Classification:

348 2

Abstract:

A method and system for producing a signature which characterizes an audio broadcast signal for use in broadcast signal recognition, wherein the signature is based on a comparison of time-displaced frequency band values each representing a respective frequency band of the audio broadcast signal. Each of a first group of the frequency band values is compared with a respective value from the second group representing portions of the audio broadcast signal within the same predetermined frequency band. At least a part of the signal portions represented by the second group were broadcast prior to the signal portions represented by the first group, and a signature is formed based on the comparison of the first and second groups.

US Patent:

56214545, Apr 15, 1997

Filed:

Jun 7, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/481815

Inventors:

Michael D. Ellis - Boulder CO
Stephen M. Dunn - Boulder CO
Michael W. Fellinger - Boulder CO
Fancy B. Younglove - Boulder CO
David M. James - Fort Collins CO
David L. Clifton - Boulder CO
Richard S. Land - Lafayette CO

Assignee:

The Arbitron Company - Columbia MD

International Classification:

H04N 1700
H04N 1704

US Classification:

348 2

Abstract:

The present invention relates to a method of producing a signature characterizing an interval of a video signal representing a picture for use in broadcast segment recognition. The signature is produced based on portions of the video signal representing corresponding regions of the picture. The invention also serves to produce a corresponding mast word including a plurality of bit values each representing a reliability of a corresponding value of the signature. The first signature is formed having a plurality of values each of which is based on a respective one of the portions of the video signal. A second signature is formed also having a plurality of values each based on respective ones of a plurality of shifted portions of the video signal. The shifted portions each corresponds to a respective one of the video signal portions and has a location displaced from a location of the respective one of the portions by a predetermined amount, such that each value of the first signature corresponds to a value of the second signature. The respective values of the first and second signatures are compared and bit values of the mask word are established based on this comparison.