Patents by Inventor Francis Johnston

Francis Johnston 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: 8882762
    Abstract: A transmural ablation device is provided to achieve endocardial and epicardial ablation at the same site but directed from the inner and outer surfaces of the heart to create a transmural lesion. By ablating from both sides of the heart tissue, it is possible to increase the depth of the lesion created and to increase the likelihood of a transmural lesion. Embodiments pertain to techniques to align the endocardial and epicardial ablation elements and techniques to position and move the endocardial and epicardial ablation elements along a predefined linear, curvilinear, or circular path. The ability to bring the epicardial and endocardial elements more closely or firmly with the underlying tissue is important in creating optimal lesions. Magnetic force attracts the epicardial and endocardial elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Paul J Wang, Amin Al-Ahmad, William Francis Johnston, Kai Ihnken, Kaartiga Sivanesan, Morgan Clyburn, Kathleen Lee Kang, Lauren Shui Sum Chan, Robert C Robbins, Friedrich B. Prinz
  • Publication number: 20130131665
    Abstract: A transmural ablation device is provided to achieve endocardial and epicardial ablation at the same site but directed from the inner and outer surfaces of the heart to create a transmural lesion. By ablating from both sides of the heart tissue, it is possible to increase the depth of the lesion created and to increase the likelihood of a transmural lesion. Embodiments pertain to techniques to align the endocardial and epicardial ablation elements and techniques to position and move the endocardial and epicardial ablation elements along a predefined linear, curvilinear, or circular path. The ability to bring the epicardial and endocardial elements more closely or firmly with the underlying tissue is important in creating optimal lesions. Magnetic force attracts the epicardial and endocardial elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Inventors: Paul J. Wang, Amin Al-Ahmad, William Francis Johnston, Kai Ihnken, Kaartiga Sivanesan, Morgan Clyburn, Kathleen Lee Kang, Lauren Shui Sum Chan, Robert C. Robbins, Friedrich B. Prinz
  • Publication number: 20090058466
    Abstract: A differential pair circuit includes a first transistor having a first control terminal, a first input terminal, and a first output terminal; a second transistor having a second control terminal, a second input terminal, and a second output terminal, a first buffer stage including a third transistor having a third control terminal, a third input terminal, and a third output terminal; and a second buffer stage including a fourth transistor having a fourth control terminal, a fourth input terminal, and a fourth output terminal. The first output terminal and the second output terminal are electrically connected; the third output terminal and the first control terminal are electrically connected; the fourth output terminal and the second control terminal are electrically connected; the first input terminal and the fourth input terminal are electrically connected; and the second input terminal and the third input terminal are electrically connected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Inventors: Allan Joseph Parks, William Francis Johnston
  • Publication number: 20050062847
    Abstract: A handheld viewing device (1) comprises an electronic camera (2) housed in a camera part (7) for capturing a visual image of text on a page, and an electronic monitor (3) housed in a monitor part (4) for displaying the visual image of the text. The camera part (7) is pivotably movable relative to the monitor part (4) from a stowed configuration to a reading configuration, and further to a writing configuration. In the stowed configuration, the plane of the camera part (7) is substantially co-planar with the plane of the monitor part (4), and thus the device (1) presents a very low-profile compact size and shape. In the reading configuration, the camera (2) points in the direction of the page, and the camera part (7) is spaced above the page to ensure that there is sufficient distance between the camera (2) and the page to enable the camera (2) to capture the visual image of the text.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2004
    Publication date: March 24, 2005
    Inventor: Francis Johnston
  • Patent number: 6373946
    Abstract: A satellite mobile telecommunications system includes mobile terminals 2a, 2b which can communicate with one another using end-to end encryption and decryption techniques. When secure end-to-end communication is required, each terminal uses a common encryption code (RAND) to encode data and decode data transmitted between the terminals. The encryption code is transmitted in a secure manner from a remote database station (15) to the terminals. Each terminal stores a terminal key (Ka, Kb) on its SIM card and the keys are also held in the remote station (15). Partial keys (Kpa, Kb) comprising the pseudo random number (RAND) and the keys Ka, Kb stored at the station (15) are produced at the station (15) by an exclusive OR process in order to mask the keys and the random number. The partial key Kpa=Ka+(RAND) is sent to terminal 2a. At the terminal 2a, the partial key Kpa is exclusive OR-ed with the locally stored terminal key Ka on the SIM card, so as to recover (RAND).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: ICO Services Ltd.
    Inventor: Thomas Francis Johnston
  • Patent number: 6214897
    Abstract: A foamable polyester composition comprising a combination of blowing agent and mixed polymer composition comprising: a) a semi-crystalline polyester composition comprising a polycondensed branched polyester polymer, and b) an aromatic polycarbonate polymer. The foamable composition has a high extrusion melt strength, and can pulled across a die without ripping, to form a continuous thermoformable closed cell polyester sheet. The foamed sheets have a uniform, fine, and closed cell morphology; and simultaneously are less dense but have a higher impact strength than comparable closed cell polymers made in only with linear polyesters as the polyester component or without the aromatic polycarbonate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Deborah Ann Snell Tung, Kevin Rollick, John Michael Scoarste, Walter Francis Johnston
  • Patent number: 6100307
    Abstract: A foamable polyester composition comprising a combination of blowing agent and mixed polymer composition comprising:a) a semi-crystalline polyester composition comprising a polycondensed branched polyester polymer, andb) an aromatic polycarbonate polymer.The foamable composition has a high extrusion melt strength, and can pulled across a die without ripping, to form a continuous thermoformable closed cell polyester sheet. The foamed sheets have a uniform, fine, and closed cell morphology; and simultaneously are less dense but have a higher impact strength than comparable closed cell polymers made in only with linear polyesters as the polyester component or without the aromatic polycarbonate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Deborah Ann Snell Tung, Kevin Rollick, John Michael Scoarste, Walter Francis Johnston
  • Patent number: 6080824
    Abstract: A foamable polyester composition comprising a combination of blowing agent and mixed polymer composition comprising:a) a semi-crystalline polyester composition comprising a polycondensed branched polyester polymer, andb) an aromatic polycarbonate polymer.The foamable composition has a high extrusion melt strength, and can pulled across a die without ripping, to form a continuous thermoformable closed cell polyester sheet. The foamed sheets have a uniform, fine, and closed cell morphology; and simultaneously are less dense but have a higher impact strength than comparable closed cell polymers made in only with linear polyesters as the polyester component or without the aromatic polycarbonate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Deborah Ann Snell Tung, Kevin Rollick, John Michael Scoarste, Walter Francis Johnston
  • Patent number: 6025405
    Abstract: A foamable polyester composition comprising a combination of blowing agent and mixed polymer composition comprising:a) a semi-crystalline polyester composition comprising a polycondensed branched polyester polymer, andb) an aromatic polycarbonate polymer.The foamable composition has a high extrusion melt strength, and can pulled across a die without ripping, to form a continuous thermoformable closed cell polyester sheet. The foamed sheets have a uniform, fine, and closed cell morphology; and simultaneously are less dense but have a higher impact strength than comparable closed cell polymers made in only with linear polyesters as the polyester component or without the aromatic polycarbonate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Deborah Ann Snell Tung, Kevin Rollick, John Michael Scoarste, Walter Francis Johnston
  • Patent number: 5641549
    Abstract: This invention is a composition, a kit to prepare the composition, cellular sheet made from the composition and thermoformed articles made from the sheet, in which the composition comprises polyethylene terephthalate, sufficient inert gas to give a sheet density of 0.4 to 1.25 gm/cc, a polytetrafluoroethylene nucleating agent and optionally a polyolefin additive and a heat stabilizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 24, 1997
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Walter Francis Johnston, Donald Edward Richeson, William George Perkins
  • Patent number: 4046717
    Abstract: A detergent or soap bar intended for personal washing is given a skin moisturizing effect by including a water soluble lactate and/or glutamate salt. Preferably at least 20% of the salt is present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1976
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1977
    Assignee: Lever Brothers Company
    Inventors: Gordon Francis Johnston, Alexander Martin, Alan Digby Tomlinson
  • Patent number: D552493
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Inventor: Daniel Francis Johnston