Patents by Inventor Alan McDonald

Alan McDonald 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).

  • Patent number: 11977220
    Abstract: A digital micromirror device comprises an array of micromirror pixels, the array comprising a first micromirror pixel and a second micromirror pixel. The first micromirror pixel comprises a hinge, where the hinge is configured to tilt toward a first raised address electrode and toward a second raised address electrode. The first micromirror pixel also comprises a first micromirror coupled to the hinge, where the first micromirror has a sculpted edge. The second micromirror pixel comprises a second micromirror, where a first gap between a first point on the sculpted edge and a nearest point to the first point on the second micromirror is larger than a second gap between a second point on the sculpted edge and a nearest point to the second point on the second micromirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: William Craig McDonald, James Norman Hall, Terry Alan Bartlett
  • Patent number: 11950607
    Abstract: Provided is a food composition which include a myceliated high-protein food product and methods to make such compositions, which are mixtures of myceliated high-protein food products and other edible materials. A food composition includes dairy alternative products, ready to mix beverages and beverage bases; extruded and extruded/puffed products; sheeted baked goods; meat analogs and extenders; baked goods and baking mixes; granola; and soups/soup bases. Food compositions also include texturized plant protein which can be used for making meat-structured plant protein meat analog or meat extender products. The food compositions have reduced undesirable flavors and reduced undesirable aromas due to use of myceliated high-protein food products as compared to use of similar high-protein material that is not myceliated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: MYCOTECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Lisa Smith, Todd McDonald, Savita Jensen, Joseph George Akamittath, Alan D. Hahn, Anthony J. Clark, Bhupendra Kumar Soni, James Patrick Langan, Brooks John Kelly, Huntington Davis
  • Publication number: 20240078916
    Abstract: Aerial vehicles are assigned to routes within a transportation network based on a state of charge, state of power, and/or state of health for the aerial vehicle. Such aspects can be modeled based on one or more statistical models and/or machine-learned models, among other examples. As another example, an energy budget is used to ensure that the state of charge, state of power, and/or state of health of the aerial vehicle during and/or after traveling the route remains within the energy budget. A payload is assigned to a route and an associated aerial vehicle, thereby generating an itinerary. In examples, the itinerary is validated by the aerial vehicle to ensure that the aerial vehicle is capable of traveling the route with the payload. In examples where the aerial vehicle rejects the itinerary, the itinerary is assigned to another aerial vehicle and a new itinerary is identified for the aerial vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2023
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Inventors: Adam Thomas Chase, Ian Andreas Villa, Luke Asher Wilhelm, Jon Petersen, Robert Alan McDonald, Mark Douglass Moore, Celina Mikolajczak
  • Patent number: 11843320
    Abstract: A method for operating a resonant converter in a burst mode includes determining the polarity of a transformer voltage across a secondary winding of a transformer. The method includes determining, from the polarity of the transformer voltage, on/off states of first and second transistors coupled to the secondary winding of the transformer. If the transformer voltage has a first polarity, the method includes commencing a burst period by alternately turning on/off high-side and low-side transistors electrically connected to a primary winding of the transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Ramkumar Sivakumar, Brent Alan McDonald, Yalong Li
  • Patent number: 11804141
    Abstract: Aerial vehicles are assigned to routes within a transportation network based on a state of charge, state of power, and/or state of health for the aerial vehicle. Such aspects can be modeled based on one or more statistical models and/or machine-learned models, among other examples. As another example, an energy budget is used to ensure that the state of charge, state of power, and/or state of health of the aerial vehicle during and/or after traveling the route remains within the energy budget. A payload is assigned to a route and an associated aerial vehicle, thereby generating an itinerary. In examples, the itinerary is validated by the aerial vehicle to ensure that the aerial vehicle is capable of traveling the route with the payload. In examples where the aerial vehicle rejects the itinerary, the itinerary is assigned to another aerial vehicle and a new itinerary is identified for the aerial vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: JOBY AERO, INC.
    Inventors: Adam Thomas Chase, Ian Andreas Villa, Luke Asher Wilhelm, Jon Petersen, Robert Alan McDonald, Mark Douglass Moore, Celina Mikolajczak
  • Patent number: 11621630
    Abstract: A switching converter controller includes: a control loop adapted to be coupled to an output terminal of a power stage; and a hybrid hysteretic control (HHC) circuit coupled to the control loop. The HHC circuit includes a resonant capacitor voltage (Vcr) node adapted to be coupled to a resonant capacitor (Cr) of the power stage, where the Vcr node sums a sense voltage for Cr with a frequency compensation ramp. The HHC circuit also includes a soft-start controller coupled to the Vcr node. The soft-start controller includes a clamp circuit coupled to the Vcr node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Salvatore Giombanco, Brent Alan McDonald
  • Publication number: 20220416676
    Abstract: A method for operating a resonant converter in a burst mode includes determining the polarity of a transformer voltage across a secondary winding of a transformer. The method includes determining, from the polarity of the transformer voltage, on/off states of first and second transistors coupled to the secondary winding of the transformer. If the transformer voltage has a first polarity, the method includes commencing a burst period by alternately turning on/off high-side and low-side transistors electrically connected to a primary winding of the transformer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2021
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Inventors: Ramkumar Sivakumar, Brent Alan McDonald, Yalong Li
  • Patent number: 11465737
    Abstract: A vertical lift rotor propulsor assembly comprises a boom having a casing with a casing profile and a first propeller blade having a blade profile that corresponds substantially to at least a portion of the casing profile of the casing of the boom. A drive mechanism is at least partially housed within the boom and at the first propeller blade is rotatably mounted to the drive mechanism to be driven thereby. The drive mechanism is to operationally move the first propeller blade between a stowed position in which the first propeller blade is substantially flush with the casing of the boom, and a deployed position in which the first propeller blade is extended a determined distance from the casing of the boom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Joby Aero, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Alan McDonald
  • Patent number: 11345469
    Abstract: An aerial vehicle that uses motor pulsed-induced cyclic control is provided. In example embodiments, the aerial vehicle comprises a fuselage incorporating a battery system and a payload bay for operatively receiving and holding a payload and at least one mono-blade rotor coupled to an electric motor and an electric motor control system. The electric motor control system controls the electric motor using pulse-induced cyclic control. The aerial vehicle further includes at least one wing, at least one cruise propeller, and an avionics system. The avionic system is configured to transition the aerial vehicle between a vertical take-off and landing mode in which the at least one mono-blade rotor is primarily engaged to propel the aerial vehicle vertically and a cruising mode in which the at least one cruise propeller is primarily engaged to propel the aerial vehicle horizontally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Joby Aero, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Alan McDonald, Mark Moore, Ian Andreas Villa
  • Patent number: 11267570
    Abstract: A vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft, configured to transport passengers and/or cargo, uses propellers during vertical flight and wings during forward flight to generate lift. The VTOL aircraft includes a front wing and a rear wing connected by inboard booms. The rear wing may include a wingtip boom attached to each free end of the wing. A propeller may be attached to each inboard boom and each wingtip boom. The propellers attached to the inboard booms may be stacked propellers including at least two co-rotating propellers. The aircraft can also include a cruise propeller attached to the tail region of the fuselage, where the cruise propeller is configured to rotate in a plane approximately perpendicular to the fuselage to generate thrust during forward flight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Joby Aero, Inc.
    Inventors: Ian Andreas Villa, Mark Moore, Robert Alan McDonald, Henry Thome Won, Adam Chase, Alex Michael Gary, Cory Seubert
  • Publication number: 20220045603
    Abstract: A switching converter controller includes: a control loop adapted to be coupled to an output terminal of a power stage; and a hybrid hysteretic control (HHC) circuit coupled to the control loop. The HHC circuit includes a resonant capacitor voltage (Vcr) node adapted to be coupled to a resonant capacitor (Cr) of the power stage, where the Vcr node sums a sense voltage for Cr with a frequency compensation ramp. The HHC circuit also includes a soft-start controller coupled to the Vcr node. The soft-start controller includes a clamp circuit coupled to the Vcr node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2021
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Inventors: Salvatore GIOMBANCO, Brent Alan MCDONALD
  • Publication number: 20220026390
    Abstract: An electrophoresis apparatus with minimal autofluorescence to enable gel processing in situ, and methods of making and using the electrophoresis apparatus. An exemplary electrophoresis apparatus may comprise a cassette defining a cavity between a first pane and a second pane of a double-paned viewing window, and also may comprise a slab gel located in the cavity. The viewing window may be transparent to ultraviolet light that drives a derivatization reaction in the slab gel, and, absent the slab gel, may define a window autofluorescence inducible by irradiation with the ultraviolet light. The window autofluorescence, per unit area, may be less than five-fold a gel autofluorescence of the slab gel, per the same unit area and under the same irradiation with the ultraviolet light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2021
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Inventors: Evan THRUSH, Stephen L. SWIHART, Kevin Alan MCDONALD
  • Patent number: 11196351
    Abstract: A circuit includes a first driver, a second driver, and a burst mode control circuit coupled to the first and second drivers. The burst mode control circuit is configured to implement a burst mode operation having a burst soft-on portion and a burst portion. During the soft-on portion of the burst mode operation, the burst mode control circuit is configured to cause the first and second drivers to produce a first set of pulses of increasing pulse width. During the burst portion of the burst mode operation, the burst mode control circuit is configured to cause the first and second drivers to produce a second set of pulses of a constant pulse width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Yalong Li, Maxim James Franke, John C. Vogt, Brent Alan McDonald
  • Patent number: 11135710
    Abstract: The ‘Compact Excavator & Skid Steer Loader Auxiliary Hydraulic Coupler Installer Tool’ is designed as a handheld tool for the purpose of mechanically installing high pressure auxiliary hydraulic attachment couplings on Compact Excavators & Skid Steer Loaders. The uniqueness of the tool is that it provides a safe, clean, fast and simple alternative to the use of hand wrenches, drip pans, rags and additional environmental cleanup materials that are required when attaching hydraulically driven auxiliary attachments to compact excavators and skid steer loaders. The tool consists of 4 basic components. The handle, anchor, attachment head and forcing head. The single anchor tool handle provides the base from which multiple tools can be configured to fit any attachment or machine application by using one of the 2 anchors and one of the 3 attachment heads with one of the 3 forcing heads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Inventor: Steven Alan McDonald
  • Publication number: 20210197349
    Abstract: The ‘Compact Excavator & Skid Steer Loader Auxiliary Hydraulic Coupler Installer Tool’ is designed as a handheld tool for the purpose of mechanically installing high pressure auxiliary hydraulic attachment couplings on Compact Excavators & Skid Steer Loaders. The uniqueness of the tool is that it provides a safe, clean, fast and simple alternative to the use of hand wrenches, drip pans, rags and additional environmental cleanup materials that are required when attaching hydraulically driven auxiliary attachments to compact excavators and skid steer loaders. The tool consists of 4 basic components. The handle, anchor, attachment head and forcing head. The single anchor tool handle provides the base from which multiple tools can be configured to fit any attachment or machine application by using one of the 2 anchors and one of the 3 attachment heads with one of the 3 forcing heads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2019
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Inventor: Steven Alan McDonald
  • Publication number: 20210122466
    Abstract: Various examples are directed to an aerial vehicle comprising a fuselage, a first wing member, and a second wing member. The fuselage may have a nose end and a tail end. The first wing member may extend from the fuselage and comprise a first drive motor coupled to the first rotor. The second wing member may also extend from the fuselage substantially opposite the first wing member and may comprise a second drive motor coupled to a second rotor. A first motor may be coupled to rotate the first wing member and the first rotor about a first axis substantially perpendicular to a fuselage axis extending from the nose end to the tail end. A second motor may be coupled to rotate the second wing member and the second rotor about a second axis substantially perpendicular to the fuselage axis. A controller circuit may be configured to differentially actuate the first motor and the second motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2020
    Publication date: April 29, 2021
    Inventors: Thomas Akers, Peter Kalogiannis, Mark Moore, Robert Alan McDonald, Ian Andrea Villa
  • Publication number: 20200388167
    Abstract: Aerial vehicles are assigned to routes within a transportation network based on a state of charge, state of power, and/or state of health for the aerial vehicle. Such aspects can be modeled based on one or more statistical models and/or machine-learned models, among other examples. As another example, an energy budget is used to ensure that the state of charge, state of power, and/or state of health of the aerial vehicle during and/or after traveling the route remains within the energy budget. A payload is assigned to a route and an associated aerial vehicle, thereby generating an itinerary. In examples, the itinerary is validated by the aerial vehicle to ensure that the aerial vehicle is capable of traveling the route with the payload. In examples where the aerial vehicle rejects the itinerary, the itinerary is assigned to another aerial vehicle and a new itinerary is identified for the aerial vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Publication date: December 10, 2020
    Applicant: Uber Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam Thomas Chase, Ian Andreas Villa, Luke Asher Wilhelm, Jon Petersen, Robert Alan McDonald, Mark Douglass Moore, Celina Mikolajczak
  • Publication number: 20200266712
    Abstract: A circuit includes a first driver, a second driver, and a burst mode control circuit coupled to the first and second drivers. The burst mode control circuit is configured to implement a burst mode operation having a burst soft-on portion and a burst portion. During the soft-on portion of the burst mode operation, the burst mode control circuit is configured to cause the first and second drivers to produce a first set of pulses of increasing pulse width. During the burst portion of the burst mode operation, the burst mode control circuit is configured to cause the first and second drivers to produce a second set of pulses of a constant pulse width.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2019
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Inventors: Yalong LI, Maxim James FRANKE, John C. VOGT, Brent Alan MCDONALD
  • Publication number: 20200156778
    Abstract: An aerial vehicle that uses motor pulsed-induced cyclic control is provided. In example embodiments, the aerial vehicle comprises a fuselage incorporating a battery system and a payload bay for operatively receiving and holding a payload and at least one mono-blade rotor coupled to an electric motor and an electric motor control system. The electric motor control system controls the electric motor using pulse-induced cyclic control. The aerial vehicle further includes at least one wing, at least one cruise propeller, and an avionics system. The avionic system is configured to transition the aerial vehicle between a vertical take-off and landing mode in which the at least one mono-blade rotor is primarily engaged to propel the aerial vehicle vertically and a cruising mode in which the at least one cruise propeller is primarily engaged to propel the aerial vehicle horizontally.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2019
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Inventors: Robert Alan McDonald, Mark Moore, Ian Andreas Villa
  • Publication number: 20190337613
    Abstract: A vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft, configured to transport passengers and/or cargo, uses propellers during vertical flight and wings during forward flight to generate lift. The VTOL aircraft includes a front wing and a rear wing connected by inboard booms. The rear wing may include a wingtip boom attached to each free end of the wing. A propeller may be attached to each inboard boom and each wingtip boom. The propellers attached to the inboard booms may be stacked propellers including at least two co-rotating propellers. The aircraft can also include a cruise propeller attached to the tail region of the fuselage, where the cruise propeller is configured to rotate in a plane approximately perpendicular to the fuselage to generate thrust during forward flight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Inventors: Ian Andreas Villa, Mark Moore, Robert Alan McDonald, Henry Thome Won, Adam Chase, Alex Michael Gary, Cory Seubert