Patents by Inventor Douglas A. Thornton
Douglas A. Thornton 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).
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Publication number: 20170104331Abstract: Dispatch engines service endpoints by transmitting dispatch signals to the serviced endpoints that cause the endpoints to adjust their electric power consumption from the electric power grid in accord with a control signal received by the dispatch engine. A market interface dispatch engine receives its control signal from an electric power grid managing entity, and downstream dispatch engines form a hierarchy cascading downstream from the market interface dispatch engine with each downstream dispatch engine being an endpoint serviced by a dispatch engine located upstream in the hierarchy. The control signal received by each downstream dispatch engine comprises dispatch signals transmitted by the upstream dispatch engine. The endpoints further include electric power-consuming loads. A suitable load controller comprises separate power interface and logic elements operatively connected to define the load controller, with the logic element powered by low voltage DC power received from the power interface element.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2016Publication date: April 13, 2017Inventors: Douglas Thornton, Eric Rehberg, Lauren Adams
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Patent number: 9612253Abstract: Golf performance and equipment characteristics may be determined by analyzing the impact between a golf ball and an impacting surface. In some examples, the impacting surface may be a golf club face. The impact between the golf ball and the surface may be measured based on sound and/or motion sensors (e.g., gyroscopes, accelerometers, etc.). Based on motion and/or sound data, various equipment-related information including golf ball compression, club head speed and impact location may be derived. Such information and/or other types of data may be conveyed to a user to help improve performance, aid in selecting golf equipment and/or to insure quality of golfing products.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: April 4, 2017Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey Hadden, Douglas A. Thornton, Bradley C. Glenn
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Patent number: 9583776Abstract: A sweep membrane separator includes a membrane that is selectively permeable to a selected gas, the membrane including a retentate side and a permeate side. A mixed gas stream including the selected gas enters the sweep membrane separator and contacts the retentate side of the membrane. At least part of the selected gas separates from the mixed gas stream and passes through the membrane to the permeate side of the membrane. The mixed gas stream, minus the separated gas, exits the sweep membrane separator. A sweep gas at high pressure enters the sweep membrane separator and sweeps the selected gas from the permeate side of the membrane. A mixture of the sweep gas and the selected gas exits the sweep membrane separator at high pressure. The sweep membrane separator thereby separates the selected gas from the gas mixture and pressurizes the selected gas.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2012Date of Patent: February 28, 2017Assignee: BATTELLE MEMORIAL INSTITUTEInventors: Douglas A. Thornton, Vincent J. Contini, Paul E. George, II
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Patent number: 9537313Abstract: Dispatch engines service endpoints by transmitting dispatch signals to the serviced endpoints that cause the endpoints to adjust their electric power consumption from the electric power grid in accord with a control signal received by the dispatch engine. A market interface dispatch engine receives its control signal from an electric power grid managing entity, and downstream dispatch engines form a hierarchy cascading downstream from the market interface dispatch engine with each downstream dispatch engine being an endpoint serviced by a dispatch engine located upstream in the hierarchy. The control signal received by each downstream dispatch engine comprises dispatch signals transmitted by the upstream dispatch engine. The endpoints further include electric power-consuming loads. A suitable load controller comprises separate power interface and logic elements operatively connected to define the load controller, with the logic element powered by low voltage DC power received from the power interface element.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2014Date of Patent: January 3, 2017Assignee: BATTELLE MEMORIAL INSTITUTEInventors: Douglas Thornton, Eric Rehberg, Lauren Adams
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Publication number: 20160332049Abstract: Golf club heads having sensors configured to measure one or more swing parameters are provided. The golf club head may include several gyroscopes and accelerometers. In one embodiment, the club head contains three gyroscopes that measure angular rate data along different orthogonal axes. At least one gyroscope may an analog gyroscope. Accelerometers may provide data regarding the three orthogonal axes associated with the gyroscopes. The club head may further include software and/or hardware that perform computer-executed methods for determining one or more swing parameters. Exemplary club heads may include a display device for displaying an output of the swing parameter(s). Further aspects of the invention relate to novel methods and algorithms for calculating measurements relating to the swing parameters.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 25, 2016Publication date: November 17, 2016Inventors: John T. Stites, Jeremy N. Snyder, James S. Thomas, Daniel J. Simpson, Daniel A. Roberts, Jeffrey A. Hadden, Bradley C. Glenn, Douglas A. Thornton
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Publication number: 20160303443Abstract: Golf clubs according to at least some example aspects of this disclosure may include a golf club head and a shaft configured to engage with the golf club head which includes a grip engaged with the shaft. Further, the golf club may include a monitoring device, which includes a sensor and a transmitter. Additionally, the monitoring device may be configured to determine data related to the characteristics of a golf swing. Further, the monitoring device may be configured to transmit the data related to the characteristics of a golf swing to a remote computer.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2016Publication date: October 20, 2016Inventors: Joshua M. Boggs, Philip J. Hatton, Brian Kammerer, Mario A. Lafortune, Michael Wallans, Robert M. Boyd, Jeffrey A. Hadden, Sherry L. Jones, Gregory S. Kramer, James H. Lua, John T. Stites, Douglas A. Thornton, Daniel F. Wisniewski
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Patent number: 9440127Abstract: Golf clubs according to at least some example aspects of this disclosure may include a golf club head and a shaft configured to engage with the golf club head which includes a grip engaged with the shaft. Further, the golf club may include a monitoring device, which includes a sensor and a transmitter. Additionally, the monitoring device may be configured to determine data related to the characteristics of a golf swing. Further, the monitoring device may be configured to transmit the data related to the characteristics of a golf swing to a remote computer.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2015Date of Patent: September 13, 2016Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Joshua M. Boggs, Brian Kammerer, Jeffrey A. Hadden, Gregory S. Kramer, Douglas A. Thornton, Sherry L. Jones, James H. Lua, Daniel F. Wisniewski
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Patent number: 9421429Abstract: Golf club heads having sensors configured to measure one or more swing parameters are provided. The golf club head may include several gyroscopes and accelerometers. In one embodiment, the club head contains three gyroscopes that measure angular rate data along different orthogonal axes. At least one gyroscope may an analog gyroscope. Accelerometers may provide data regarding the three orthogonal axes associated with the gyroscopes. The club head may further include software and/or hardware that perform computer-executed methods for determining one or more swing parameters. Exemplary club heads may include a display device for displaying an output of the swing parameter(s). Further aspects of the invention relate to novel methods and algorithms for calculating measurements relating to the swing parameters.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2014Date of Patent: August 23, 2016Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: John T. Stites, Jeremy Snyder, James S. Thomas, Jeffrey A. Hadden, Bradley C. Glenn, Daniel J. Simpson, Daniel A. Roberts, Douglas A. Thornton
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Patent number: 9403078Abstract: Golf clubs according to at least some example aspects of this disclosure may include a golf club head and a shaft configured to engage with the golf club head which includes a grip engaged with the shaft. Further, the golf club may include a monitoring device, which includes a sensor and a transmitter. Additionally, the monitoring device may be configured to determine data related to the characteristics of a golf swing. Further, the monitoring device may be configured to transmit the data related to the characteristics of a golf swing to a remote computer.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2015Date of Patent: August 2, 2016Assignee: Nike, Inc.Inventors: Joshua M. Boggs, Philip J. Hatton, Brian Kammerer, Jeffrey A. Hadden, Gregory S. Kramer, Douglas A. Thornton, Sherry L. Jones, James H. Lua, Daniel F. Wisniewski
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Publication number: 20160178221Abstract: A water heater that includes a cylindrical storage tank, at least one heating element, and at least one temperature sensor is modeled using a one-dimensional model that includes: a vertical stack of disks representing the water volume in the cylindrical storage tank, and a stack of annular segments surrounding the vertical stack of disks. The stack of annular segments represents the cylindrical wall of the cylindrical storage tank. The one-dimensional model may be used by a condition-based maintenance system comprising an electronic data processing device configured to detect a failure mode present in the water heater based on an output of the water heating model component. Some illustrative failure modes include insulation disturbance, heating element failure, excessive sediment buildup, or a drip tube rupture.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2015Publication date: June 23, 2016Inventors: Douglas Thornton, Bradley C. Glenn, James H. Saunders, Jason W. Black, Eric Rehberg
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Publication number: 20160178239Abstract: An electric water heater that includes a thermostat is retrofitted for remote control as follows. A relay is installed on an electrical feed to the electric water heater. Water temperature and electric current or power through the electrical feed are measured over time with the relay closed, and the thermostat deadband maximum and minimum are detected as the water temperature at which the thermostat turns the heating element off, and the water temperature at which the thermostat turns the heating element on, respectively. The detected thermostat deadband maximum and minimum are stored as load controller deadband maximum and minimum, respectively. The thermostat set point is raised, and the electric water heater is thereafter controlled using the load controller by operations including closing the relay when the water temperature falls below the load controller deadband minimum and opening the relay when the water temperature rises above the load controller deadband maximum.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2015Publication date: June 23, 2016Inventors: Douglas Thornton, Jason W. Black, Lauren Adams
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Publication number: 20150306480Abstract: Golf clubs according to at least some example aspects of this disclosure may include a golf club head and a shaft configured to engage with the golf club head which includes a grip engaged with the shaft. Further, the golf club may include a monitoring device, which includes a sensor and a transmitter. Additionally, the monitoring device may be configured to determine data related to the characteristics of a golf swing. Further, the monitoring device may be configured to transmit the data related to the characteristics of a golf swing to a remote computer.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 26, 2015Publication date: October 29, 2015Inventors: Joshua M. Boggs, Brian Kammerer, Jeffrey A. Hadden, Gregory S. Kramer, Douglas A. Thornton, Sherry L. Jones, James H. Lua, Daniel F. Wisniewski
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Publication number: 20150231478Abstract: Golf clubs according to at least some example aspects of this disclosure may include a golf club head and a shaft configured to engage with the golf club head which includes a grip engaged with the shaft. Further, the golf club may include a monitoring device, which includes a sensor and a transmitter. Additionally, the monitoring device may be configured to determine data related to the characteristics of a golf swing. Further, the monitoring device may be configured to transmit the data related to the characteristics of a golf swing to a remote computer.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 26, 2015Publication date: August 20, 2015Inventors: Joshua M. Boggs, Philip J. Hatton, Brian Kammerer, Jeffrey A. Hadden, Gregory S. Kramer, Douglas A. Thornton, Sherry L. Jones, James H. Lua, Daniel F. Wisniewski
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Publication number: 20150147668Abstract: A sweep membrane separator includes a membrane that is selectively permeable to a selected gas, the membrane including a retentate side and a permeate side. A mixed gas stream including the selected gas enters the sweep membrane separator and contacts the retentate side of the membrane. At least part of the selected gas separates from the mixed gas stream and passes through the membrane to the permeate side of the membrane. The mixed gas stream, minus the separated gas, exits the sweep membrane separator. A sweep gas at high pressure enters the sweep membrane separator and sweeps the selected gas from the permeate side of the membrane. A mixture of the sweep gas and the selected gas exits the sweep membrane separator at high pressure. The sweep membrane separator thereby separates the selected gas from the gas mixture and pressurizes the selected gas.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2012Publication date: May 28, 2015Applicant: BATTELLE MEMORIAL INSTITUTEInventors: Douglas A. Thornton, Vincent J. Contini, Paul E. George, II
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Patent number: 8986130Abstract: Golf clubs according to at least some example aspects of this disclosure may include a golf club head and a shaft configured to engage with the golf club head which includes a grip engaged with the shaft. Further, the golf club may include a monitoring device, which includes a sensor and a transmitter. Additionally, the monitoring device may be configured to determine data related to the characteristics of a golf swing. Further, the monitoring device may be configured to transmit the data related to the characteristics of a golf swing to a remote computer.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2013Date of Patent: March 24, 2015Assignee: Nike, Inc.Inventors: Philip J. Hatton, Brian Kammerer, Jeffrey A. Hadden, Gregory S. Kramer, Douglas A. Thornton, Joshua M. Boggs, Sherry L. Jones, James H. Lua, Daniel F. Wisniewski
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Publication number: 20150033016Abstract: A first aspect of the invention includes a method of securing messages using multiple cryptographic algorithms that distributes the burden of computing a session key using a strong cryptographic algorithm while using the session key with a faster cryptographic algorithm to protect messages long enough to compute a new session key. Some embodiments can be improved by use of a non-repeating seed, slotted storage of session keys, or both. A second aspect of the invention is generally directed to an augmented multi-stage hash function, which can be used as the faster cryptographic algorithm.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 23, 2014Publication date: January 29, 2015Inventors: Douglas A. Thornton, Katherine M. Weaver
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Patent number: 8917051Abstract: The present invention provides a novel method of controlling a mobile, integrated fuel processor and fuel cell system that utilizes an innovative combination of feedback and feed forward control loops maintain the reformer temperature and hydrogen permeate pressure in the system with the operating parameters of the fuel reformer being adjusted to achieve rapid and more reliable load following when transient conditions occur.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2010Date of Patent: December 23, 2014Assignee: Battelle Memorial InstituteInventors: Douglas A. Thornton, Vincent Contini, Todd A. McCandlish
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Publication number: 20140349267Abstract: A sensor aided ball as a tool to teach math and science. The ball may include various sensors such as inertial, pressure, magnetic, and temperature sensors. Users can run experiments and then view the results on a computer, tablet, or phone. Measurements such as acceleration, angular rate, velocity, position, heading, pressure, and temperature can be displayed. The ball may be used within an associated system or method.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2014Publication date: November 27, 2014Applicant: Battelle Memorial InstituteInventor: Douglas A. Thornton
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Publication number: 20140323235Abstract: Golf club heads having sensors configured to measure one or more swing parameters are provided. The golf club head may include several gyroscopes and accelerometers. In one embodiment, the club head contains three gyroscopes that measure angular rate data along different orthogonal axes. At least one gyroscope may an analog gyroscope. Accelerometers may provide data regarding the three orthogonal axes associated with the gyroscopes. The club head may further include software and/or hardware that perform computer-executed methods for determining one or more swing parameters. Exemplary club heads may include a display device for displaying an output of the swing parameter(s). Further aspects of the invention relate to novel methods and algorithms for calculating measurements relating to the swing parameters.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 10, 2014Publication date: October 30, 2014Inventors: John T. Stites, Jeremy Snyder, James S. Thomas, Jeffrey A. Hadden, Bradley C. Glenn, Daniel J. Simpson, Daniel A. Roberts, Douglas A. Thornton
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Publication number: 20140278207Abstract: Golf performance and equipment characteristics may be determined by analyzing the impact between a golf ball and an impacting surface. In some examples, the impacting surface may be a golf club face. The impact between the golf ball and the surface may be measured based on sound and/or motion sensors (e.g., gyroscopes, accelerometers, etc.). Based on motion and/or sound data, various equipment-related information including golf ball compression, club head speed and impact location may be derived. Such information and/or other types of data may be conveyed to a user to help improve performance, aid in selecting golf equipment and/or to insure quality of golfing products.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2013Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: NIKE, INC.Inventors: Jeffrey Hadden, Douglas A. Thornton, Bradley C. Glenn