Patents Represented by Attorney Fletcher Yoder

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  • Solid feed guide apparatus for a posimetric solids pump
    Patent number: 8307975
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes a posimetric pump guide configured to mount in a port of a posimetric pump. The posimetric pump guide includes a first flow splitter defining first and second distribution channels into first and second passages in the posimetric pump. The first flow splitter includes a first pair of shroud walls spaced apart about a first disc opening. The posimetric pump guide also includes an abutment extending crosswise to the first flow splitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Yichuan Fang, Steven Craig Russell, Kellan William McCarthy
  • Combustor liner cooling system
    Patent number: 8307657
    Abstract: A system, in one embodiment, includes a turbine engine. The turbine engine includes a combustor that includes a hollow annular wall having a combustor liner. The turbine engine also includes first flow path in a first direction through the hollow annular wall. The turbine engine further includes a second flow path in a second direction that is opposite the first direction through the hollow annular wall. The second flow path may include one or more film holes configured to supply a cooling film to a downstream end portion of the combustor liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Ronald James Chila
  • Compliant diaphragm medical sensor and technique for using the same
    Patent number: 8311602
    Abstract: A sensor assembly is provided that includes a frame having a loop structure. An emitter and detector are disposed on opposite sides of the loop structure. A coating is provided over the frame. The coating includes at least one diaphragm structure disposed such that at least one of the emitter and detector can move along an axis running between the emitter and detector. The sensor may thereby be placed on a patient's finger, toe, and so forth to obtain pulse oximetry or other physiological measurements. A sensor frame and method of manufacturing the frame are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Nellcor Puritan Bennett LLC
    Inventors: Darius Eghbal, Joseph Coakley, George L. Matlock, William Raridan
  • System and method to schedule resources in delivery of healthcare to a patient
    Patent number: 8311850
    Abstract: A method to schedule resources in delivery of healthcare to a series of patients is provided. The method comprises the steps of identifying an availability of the series of resources to deliver the healthcare to each patient; calculating a predicted duration to deliver the healthcare to each patient; calculating a schedule including a block of time dependent on the predicted duration for each resource to deliver healthcare to the patient, the block of time including a start time and an end time; calculating a confidence level in the schedule, the confidence level including a probability that one or more of the resources will not be available for the block of time of the schedule or calculating a likelihood that one or more resources will be available for the block of time in the schedule; and outputting the schedule and the confidence level in the schedule for display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Christopher Johnson, Kunter Akbay, Jenny M. Weisenberg, Paul Cuddihy, Onur Dulgeroglu, David Toledano
  • Ball valve stem retaining system
    Patent number: 8308131
    Abstract: A system, in certain embodiments, includes a ball valve including a body and a ball disposed within the body. The ball valve also includes a stem disposed within an opening in the ball. The stem is removable by passage through the opening into a bore of the ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Cameron International Corporation
    Inventors: Paul M. Gutmann, John M. Saldivar
  • Reflectance and/or transmissive pulse oximeter
    Patent number: 8311601
    Abstract: According to various embodiments, a medical sensor assembly may be configured to switch between transmission and reflectance mode. Such sensors may include multiple optical sensing components that may be activated or silent, depending on the mode in use. A practitioner may switch between modes based on the particular situation of the patient or based on the signal quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Nellcor Puritan Bennett LLC
    Inventor: David P. Besko
  • Time-sliced multiplexed image display
    Patent number: 8305488
    Abstract: A device for displaying multiple image streams each comprising multiple image frames that entertains multiple viewers includes at least three image generators for generating at least three separate image streams that each include multiple image frames. At least one of the image generators is configured for at least one viewer input. An image multiplexer is provided for interleaving image frames of each image stream to produce an interleaved image stream and a display is provided for showing the interleaved image stream. A method of displaying multiple image streams is also presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventors: Scott R. Trowbridge, Steven C. Blum, Justin Michael Schwartz, Brian McQuillian
  • Energy efficient polyolefin process
    Patent number: 8303899
    Abstract: A manufacturing system for producing polyolefin includes a polymerization reactor, a flash chamber, and a purge column. In certain embodiments, the purge column may receive a solids stream directly from the flash chamber. Further, the purge column may function as a feed tank for an extruder within an extrusion/loadout system. According to certain embodiments, the manufacturing system may be configured to consume less than 445 kilowatt-hours of energy per metric ton of polyolefin produced based on consumption of electricity, steam, and fuel gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP
    Inventors: Robert R. McElvain, John D. Hottovy, Ralph W. Romig, Donald W. Verser, David H. Burns, John H. Tait, Richard Peacock, James E. Hein, Scott E. Kufeld, Carl W. Fenderson, Anurag Gupta, Dale A. Zellers, Penny A. Zellers, legal representative
  • Method and system for image integrity determination
    Patent number: 8306268
    Abstract: A method and system for determining integrity of images is disclosed herein. The method includes determining the integrity of a non-image data of an image file. The method of protecting images comprises: obtaining an image file having both image data and non-image data and generating at least one code based on the non-image data at the time of creation of the image file. The code is incorporated into the image data of the image file in a visually non-detectable format. In an example, a digital watermarking technique is used to incorporate the code into the image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Kadri Nizar Jabri
  • Systems for compressing a gas
    Patent number: 8303695
    Abstract: Systems are provided for gasification operations. The systems may use carbonous gas as part of plant operations. The systems may include a first compressor configured to compress a carbonous gas and a controller. The controller is configured to control the first compressor to transition from compressing a first carbonous gas to compressing a second carbonous gas during startup of a gasification system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Anindra Mazumdar, Sunil Ramabhilakh Mishra, Rupinder Singh Benipal
  • System and method for converting welding power to plasma-cutting power
    Patent number: 8304685
    Abstract: The present invention includes a plasma cutter having an input configured to receive welding power and a converter arranged according to a ?uk topology and configured to automatically convert the welding power to plasma-cutting power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Bunker, Joseph C. Schneider, James F. Ulrich
  • Vertically stacked fin transistors and methods of fabricating and operating the same
    Patent number: 8294511
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is disclosed having vertically stacked (also referred to as vertically offset) transistors in a semiconductor fin. The semiconductor fin may include lower transistors separated by a first trench and having a source and drain in a first doped region of the fin. The semiconductor fin also includes upper transistors vertically offset from the first transistors and separated by a second trench and having a source and drain in a second doped region of the fin. Upper and lower stacked gates may be disposed on the sidewalls of the fin, such that the lower transistors are activated by biasing the lower gates and upper transistors are activated by biasing the upper gates. Methods of manufacturing and operating the device are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Werner Juengling
  • Method of fabricating a finFET having cross-hair cells
    Patent number: 8293602
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for manufacturing grounded gate cross-hair cells and standard cross-hair cells of fin field-effect transistors (finFETs). In one embodiment, a process may include forming gate trenches and gates on and parallel to row trenches in a substrate, wherein the gate trenches and gates are pitch-doubled such that four gate trenches are formed for every two row trenches. In another embodiment, a process may include forming gate trenches, gates, and grounded gates in a substrate, wherein the gate trenches and gates are formed such that three gate trenches are formed for every two row trenches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Werner Juengling
  • Secondary backlight indicator for portable media devices
    Patent number: 8294659
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for displaying icons directly on a display, such as an LCD, regardless of whether the display is ON. When the display is ON, a primary backlight may be used to illuminate the display. When the display is OFF, a secondary backlight may project light through the primary backlight to display one or more icons on the display. The displayed icons may be of various shapes, colors, and sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Rosenblatt
  • LCD pixel design varying by color
    Patent number: 8294647
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display (LCD) having a plurality of pixels is provided. In one embodiment, the pixels of the LCD each include common and pixel electrodes formed on an insulating layer, and a liquid crystal layer responsive to electric fields generated by the electrodes. The plurality of pixels may include two or more sets of pixels each configured to transmit light of a different color, and the pixel electrodes of one set of pixels may be configured differently from those of another set. In other embodiments, the sizes of the pixels may differ. Various additional devices and methods are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Cheng Chen, Ming Xu, Mingxia Gu, Shih Chang Chang, Shawn Robert Gettemy, John Z. Zhong
  • Reteachable non-contact switching circuit
    Patent number: 8294575
    Abstract: A method for reteaching a switching circuit is provided. The method includes presenting a target within a sensing range of a sensor of the switching circuit for a pre-determined duration and acquiring an identification code of the target via the sensor. The method also includes comparing the acquired identification code with all stored identification codes of other targets previously used by the switching circuit as a basis for switching and reteaching the switching circuit for switching based on the acquired identification code if the acquired identification code is different from all stored identification codes previously used by the switching circuit as a basis for switching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Tockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne R. Foster, Joshua D. Vavra, Steven R. Tambeau
  • System and method for sharpening image data
    Patent number: 8294781
    Abstract: Various techniques relating to image sharpening are provided. In one embodiment, a luminance image is obtained based upon image data acquired by an image sensor. A multi-scale unsharp mask, which may include at least two Gaussian filters of difference radii, is applied to the luminance image to determine a plurality of unsharp values. Each of the unsharp values may be compared to a corresponding threshold and, for the unsharp values that exceed their respective thresholds, the unsharp value is multiplied by a corresponding gain and added to a base image, which may be selected as the luminance image or the output of one of the Gaussian filters. Each gained unsharp value may be summed with the base image to produce a final sharpened output. In some embodiments, an attenuated gain may be applied to unsharp values that do not exceed their respective thresholds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Guy Cote, Jeffrey E. Frederiksen
  • Pressure-compensated accumulator bottle
    Patent number: 8291938
    Abstract: A pressure-compensated accumulator bottle is provided. In one embodiment, the accumulator bottle includes a housing and an interior wall that generally define first, second, and third chambers within the housing. In this embodiment, a spring is disposed in the second chamber and configured to apply a biasing force on a first piston disposed within the first chamber. Further, in this embodiment, an additional piston is disposed within the third chamber and is configured to facilitate balancing of the pressure of a fluid disposed in the second chamber with the pressure of the external environment such that the magnitude of a second biasing force applied on the first piston by the pressure of the fluid depends at least in part on the pressure of the external environment. Hydraulic circuits and systems including a pressure-compensated accumulator bottle are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Cameron International Corporation
    Inventors: Mac M. Kennedy, Scott D. Ward, Thomas M. Bell
  • Methods and apparatus for measuring body circumference
    Patent number: 8295570
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for measuring body circumference are provided. One method includes acquiring dual-energy two-dimensional (2D) scan information from a dual-energy x-ray scan of a body and generating a dual-energy image of the body using the 2D scan information. The method further includes determining a circumference of at least one portion of the body based on the dual-energy scan information and the generated dual-energy image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Paul Markwardt, Randall Payne, Robert Washenko
  • LCD panel having improved response
    Patent number: 8294850
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display (LCD) having a liquid crystal layer is provided. In one embodiment, the liquid crystal layer includes a nematic liquid crystal material having liquid crystal molecules in an untwisted state. A chiral dopant is dispersed within the liquid crystal layer and configured to bias the liquid crystal molecules toward a twisted state. Furthermore, a polymer network is disposed among the liquid crystal molecules and configured to bias the liquid crystal molecules toward the untwisted state. Various additional devices and methods are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Cheng Chen, John Z. Zhong, Ming Xu, Mingxia Gu