Patents Assigned to General Atomics
  • METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR SUPPRESSING TRITIUM PERMEATION DURING TRITIUM PRODUCTION
    Publication number: 20120294403
    Abstract: A tritium production element for use in a conventional power reactor, and methods of use and making, are provided, wherein the element experiences reduced tritium permeation during irradiation by incorporating a silicon carbide barrier that encapsulates one or more burnable absorber pellets. The tritium production element includes a tubular cladding that encloses a plurality of burnable absorber pellets, such that individual pellets or groups of pellets are disposed within a silicon carbide barrier layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: General Atomics
    Inventor: Timothy Creston BERTCH
  • Apparatus and methods for use in flash detection
    Patent number: 8304729
    Abstract: The present embodiments provide methods, systems and apparatuses that detect, classify and locate flash events. In some implementations, some of the methods detect a flash event, trigger an imaging system in response to detecting the flash event to capture an image of an area that includes the flash event, and determines a location of the flash event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: General Atomics
    Inventors: Robin Terry Snider, Jeffrey Dykes McGee, Michael Dale Perry
  • Photosynthetic carbon dioxide sequestration and pollution abatement
    Patent number: 8262776
    Abstract: A system and method for producing biofuel from pollutant-fed algae are disclosed. Specifically, the system includes a scrubber with a chamber for receiving a pollutant-contaminated fluid stream. Further, a scrubber solution is received in the chamber for scrubbing the pollutant-contaminated fluid stream. Also, the system includes a bioreactor that is provided with an input port to receive the scrubber solution with pollutants for use as nutrients to support algae cell growth. Further, the system includes an algae separator that removes the algae from the bioreactor and a device for processing the algae into biofuel. In order to recycle the scrubber solution, the algae separator is in fluid communication with the scrubber. With this arrangement, the effluence from the bioreactor may be recycled for use as the scrubber solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: General Atomics
    Inventors: David A. Hazlebeck, Eric H. Dunlop
  • Method for Nutrient Pre-Loading of Microbial Cells
    Publication number: 20120220018
    Abstract: A method is provided for supporting the growth of selected microbial cells and for obstructing the growth of contaminants in a non-sterile system. In the method, the microbial cells are pre-loaded with a surplus amount of a chosen nutrient, such as phosphorus, other macronutrients, or micronutrients. Further, the chosen nutrient is greatly reduced, or eliminated, from the non-sterile system. Thereafter, the pre-loaded selected microbial cells are introduced into the non-sterile system. In the non-sterile system, the selected microbial cells rely on the surplus amount of the chosen nutrient to survive and grow. At the same time, contaminants such as non-selected microbial strains and bacteria starve from a lack of the chosen nutrient in the non-sterile system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: General Atomics
    Inventor: David A. Hazlebeck
  • Methods of manufacturing quantum well materials
    Patent number: 8242348
    Abstract: Processes for economical large scale commercial production of blocks of quantum well particles, platelets, or continuous sheets of material imparting minimal or essentially no parasitic substrate loss in quantum well devices such as thermo-electric generators in which the blocks are embodied involve roll to roll processing, i.e., deposition and crystallization of alternating layers of quantum well materials, on an elongate and continuous base layer of appreciable width. Blocks of quantum well materials having no attached base layer are produced on decomposable or release treated base layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: General Atomics
    Inventor: Lawrence D. Woolf
  • Linear synchronous motor with phase control
    Patent number: 8224509
    Abstract: A system for controlling movements of a vehicle along a guideway includes an array of targets that are mounted on the vehicle, and a series of wayside sensors that are mounted on the guideway. A signal processor monitors the passage of targets past appropriate sensors and uses resultant signals to derive parametric values that are characteristic of the vehicle's movements. The parametric values are then coordinated with a controller for the operation of a linear synchronous motor that propels the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: General Atomics
    Inventors: Philip Lynn Jeter, Karoly Kehrer, Husam Gurol
  • Embedded module for linear synchronous motor
    Patent number: 8221024
    Abstract: A method of constructing a roadway having an embedded linear synchronous motor (LSM) utilizes prefabricated modules. Structurally, each module comprises a top plate, a multiple-phase winding tied to the top plate, and a concrete mold encapsulating the winding. With the modules prefabricated, the roadway is constructed by first excavating a trench to position a foundation at the trench bottom. Then a mud matt is positioned on the foundation. Next, the modules are laid end-to-end on the mud matt. Thereafter, the windings in adjacent modules are electrically interconnected through joints. Further, the joints are covered by junction boxes, and the trench around the roadway is filled in with aggregate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: General Atomics
    Inventors: Philip L. Jeter, Husam Gurol, In-Kun Kim
  • Method and system for network setup and maintenance and medium access control for a wireless sensor network
    Patent number: 8199635
    Abstract: A sensor network having a first command center and a first access node, comprising a wireless transceiver, coupled to the command center. The sensor network may also include a plurality of nodes individually comprising a wireless transceiver and a directional antenna, wherein each of the plurality of nodes is successively located in a downlink direction relative to the first access node, and is configured to wirelessly communicate via the directional antenna with at least one node of a first neighbor group in a first direction and at least one node of a second neighbor group in a second direction. In addition, a sensor device is individually coupled to at least one of the nodes, and is configured to provide sensor data for the first command center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: General Atomics
    Inventors: James Laurence Taylor, Venkatagopal Racherla, Jaya L. Jeyaseelan, Naiel K. Askar, Michael D. Perry, David S. Furuno
  • Determination of ions using ion-sensitive enzymes
    Patent number: 8187831
    Abstract: The invention relates generally to the field of sodium and lithium ion detection. In particular, the invention provides chimeric proteins, nucleic acids encoding chimeric proteins, methods and kits for assaying for sodium ions and for lithium ions in a sample, using inter alia, a 3?(2?),5?-bisphosphate nucleotidase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: General Atomics
    Inventor: Chong-Sheng Yuan
  • Reversible inhibitors of S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine hydrolase and uses thereof
    Patent number: 8168643
    Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for reversibly inhibiting S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine (SAH) hydrolase. The compounds of the present invention can be used in combination with an anti-hemorrhagic viral infection agent, an immunosuppressant, a homocysteine lowering agent, or an anti-neoplasm agent. The compositions and methods of the present invention can be used for the prevention and treatment of hemorrhagic virus infection, autoimmune diseases, autograft rejection, neoplasm, hyperhomocysteineuria, cardiovascular disease, stroke, Alzheimer's disease, or diabetes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: General Atomics
    Inventor: Chong-Sheng Yuan
  • Method and apparatus for data transfer using a time division multiple frequency scheme supplemented with polarity modulation
    Patent number: 8149879
    Abstract: A method of data transmission according to one embodiment of the invention includes encoding a set of data values to produce a corresponding series of ordered n-tuples. The method also includes transmitting, according to the series of ordered n-tuples, a plurality of bursts over a plurality n of frequency bands. Specifically, for each of the plurality of bursts, a frequency band occupied by the burst is indicated by the order within its n-tuple of an element corresponding to the burst. A bandwidth of at least one of the plurality of bursts is at least two percent of the center frequency of the burst. Information is encoded into a polarity of at least one of the plurality of bursts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: General Atomics
    Inventors: Gerald D. Rogerson, David S. Furuno, Stephan W. Gehring, Michael L. Walker, Roberto Aiello
  • Linear motor charged electric vehicle
    Patent number: 8113310
    Abstract: An all-electric, wheeled vehicle has a magnet array that can be selectively moved between a retracted position and a deployed position, to respectively operate in a motor mode or a generator mode. When in the motor mode, with its magnet array retracted, wheel rotation to move the vehicle is powered by an onboard battery. Alternately, in the generator mode with the magnet array deployed, the vehicle is powered by a Linear Synchronous Motor (LSM). Specifically, the deployed magnet array interacts with a multiple-phase winding (i.e. LSM) embedded into the roadway on which the vehicle travels. Further, rotation of the wheel during vehicle movement in the generator mode recharges the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: General Atomics
    Inventors: Husam Gurol, Philip L. Jeter, Kurt M. Schaubel
  • Transport system incorporating linear motor charged electric vehicle
    Patent number: 8109353
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for moving a vehicle along a roadway. The system includes at least one power segment that incorporates a multiple-phase winding. Structurally, the winding is embedded into the roadway for interaction with a magnet system mounted on the vehicle. With this interaction, a Linear Synchronous Motor (LSM) is established between the roadway and the vehicle to drive movement of the vehicle along the roadway. Also, the vehicle includes a mechanism for initially synchronizing a waveform speed of the multiple-phase winding with the speed of the vehicle. Further, the vehicle is able to selectively establish the LSM for use when desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: General Atomics
    Inventors: Husam Gurol, Philip L. Jeter, Kurt M. Schaubel
  • Optical System for Reducing Stimulated Brillouin Scattering by Controllably Changing Polarization Direction of an Optical Signal
    Publication number: 20120019887
    Abstract: An optical system having an input surface configured to receive an input optical signal having a polarization, and a polarization changer comprising the input surface and configured to generate two orthogonal polarization components from the input optical signal. The polarization changer also changes a direction of the polarization of the input optical signal in a controlled manner as a function of time while maintaining coherence of the two orthogonal polarization components in order to reduce stimulated Brillion scattering.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: General Atomics
    Inventor: Detao DU
  • APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR USE IN FLASH DETECTION
    Publication number: 20120001071
    Abstract: The present embodiments provide methods, systems and apparatuses that detect, classify and locate flash events. In some implementations, some of the methods detect a flash event, trigger an imaging system in response to detecting the flash event to capture an image of an area that includes the flash event, and determines a location of the flash event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ATOMICS
    Inventors: Robin Terry SNIDER, Jeffrey Dykes MCGEE, Michael Dale PERRY
  • Active armor systems
    Patent number: 8074554
    Abstract: An improvement in an electric armor system designed to prevent, among other things, a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) from penetrating the hull of a fighting vehicle. The system includes a self-clearing electrode that will make the system less vulnerable to non-plasma objects that might otherwise short out the active armor electrodes. It optionally further allows for the early initiation of current flow at the point of penetration making it even easier to defeat incoming threats by allowing more time to break-up an incoming plasma jet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: General Atomics
    Inventor: Frederick W. MacDougall
  • REFLECTIVE COATING, PIGMENT, COLORED COMPOSITION, AND PROCESS OF PRODUCING A REFLECTIVE PIGMENT
    Publication number: 20110299167
    Abstract: A reflective coating is disclosed that has a base layer provided with a reflective surface for reflecting electromagnetic radiation, such as visible and solar near-infrared light. The reflective coating also has a dielectric layer formed on the reflective surface, and an absorber layer. The absorber layer is formed on the dielectric layer that is formed on the base layer. The reflective coating has an average reflectance greater than about 60% for wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation in the range of 800 to 2500 nm that is irradiated upon the reflective coating. Additionally, the reflective coating has an average reflectance for wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation in the range of 400 to 700 nm irradiated upon the reflecting coating that is less than the average reflectance of the reflective coating from 800 to 2500 nm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2010
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: General Atomics
    Inventor: Lawrence D. Woolf
  • Active armor systems
    Patent number: 8069771
    Abstract: An improvement in an electric armor system designed to prevent, among other things, a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) from penetrating the hull of a fighting vehicle. The system includes a self-clearing electrode that will make the system less vulnerable to non-plasma objects that might otherwise short out the active armor electrodes. It optionally further allows for the early initiation of current flow at the point of penetration making it even easier to defeat incoming threats by allowing more time to break-up an incoming plasma jet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: General Atomics
    Inventor: Frederick W. MacDougall
  • METHODS AND COMPOSITIONS FOR ASSAYING ENZYMATIC ACTIVITY OF MYELOPEROXIDASE IN BLOOD SAMPLES
    Publication number: 20110287468
    Abstract: The present invention provides a two-step assay for measuring myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity in a blood sample. The first step utilizes a chromogenic substrate to measure first peroxidase activity including MPO activity in the sample, whereas the second step measures non-MPO peroxidase activity in the presence of the same chromogenic substrate and a specific MPO inhibitor. Specific MPO peroxidase activity is then determined by comparing the non-MPO peroxidase activity and the total peroxidase activity. The MPO peroxidase activity obtained in this fashion may be proportional, and preferably directly proportional, to the mass of MPO in the sample. Kits for assaying MPO peroxidase activity based on the same principle are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: General Atomics
    Inventors: Chong-Sheng YUAN, Xiaomin GONG
  • Optical system for reducing stimulated Brillouin scattering by controllably changing polarization direction of an optical signal
    Patent number: 8054539
    Abstract: An optical system having an input surface configured to receive an input optical signal having a polarization, and a polarization changer comprising the input surface and configured to generate two orthogonal polarization components from the input optical signal. The polarization changer also changes a direction of the polarization of the input optical signal in a controlled manner while maintaining coherence of the two orthogonal polarization components in order to reduce stimulated Brillion scattering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: General Atomics
    Inventor: Detao Du