Patents by Inventor Francis Smith

Francis Smith 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: 9320292
    Abstract: A chewy and intermediate moisture bar is provided that uses a dairy-based binder generally without the need to employ gums, humectants, and sugar syrups as a binder to achieve the moist and chewy texture. In one aspect, the bar includes a dry base uniformly blended with a dairy-based binder that uses high levels of dairy proteins as the main binding component. A method of forming the chewy and intermediate moisture bar is also provided that may use a lay or delay period to allow moisture equilibration or migration from the binder to the dry base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Kraft Foods Group Brands LLC
    Inventors: Gary Francis Smith, Olaf C. Kortum, Yinqing Ma, Amanda Jane Criezis, Kelly K. Harman, Edward Charles Coleman, Juan R. Peebles
  • Publication number: 20160081362
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to process cheese type products prepared with calcium-reduced ingredients but without emulsifying salts and methods of producing such process cheese type products without emulsifying salts. The process cheeses of the present invention are advantageously resistant to separation during heating and retain desirable organoleptic properties, such as texture, without using emulsifying salts. The process cheeses of the present invention are also lower in sodium than conventional produces cheese products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Inventors: Gary Francis Smith, Edwin Rivera
  • Publication number: 20160036270
    Abstract: A system includes a first power converter, a second power converter, a first battery having a time to end of discharge (EOD) and coupled to output a current to the first converter, a second battery having a time to EOD and coupled to output a current to the second converter, and a control circuit coupled to the first converter and the second converter. The control circuit is configured to monitor the times to EOD of the first battery and the second battery, and in response to the times to EOD of the first battery and the second battery not being substantially equal, control the first converter to adjust the current drawn from the first battery to change a rate of decrease of the time to EOD of the first battery. Other example systems and methods for substantially matching a time to EOD of a plurality of batteries are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Publication date: February 4, 2016
    Inventor: Michael Francis SMITH
  • Patent number: 9232807
    Abstract: A dairy-based food component is provided that includes high levels of lactose in moisture, but still retains a smooth and creamy consistency. The compositions and methods provide for higher levels of lactose in moisture phase than previously found possible and still retain low crystal sizes in a finished product to maintain a smooth and creamy texture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Kraft Foods Group Brands LLC
    Inventors: Gary Francis Smith, Andrew Thomas Mackey, Amanda Jane Criezis
  • Patent number: 9232808
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to process cheese type products prepared with calcium-reduced ingredients but without emulsifying salts and methods of producing such process cheese type products without emulsifying salts. The process cheeses of the present invention are advantageously resistant to separation during heating and retain desirable organoleptic properties, such as texture, without using emulsifying salts. The process cheeses of the present invention are also lower in sodium than conventional produces cheese products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Kraft Foods Group Brands LLC
    Inventors: Gary Francis Smith, Edwin Gerardo Rivera
  • Publication number: 20160000097
    Abstract: Methods of imparting resistance to mold to a food product during extended storage at refrigerated temperatures by topically applying a live yeast and fermented aqueous sugar and ethanol solution to a surface of the food product are provided. The live yeast and fermented aqueous sugar and ethanol solution contains about 1% to about 5% live yeast, about 5% to about 40% sugar, and about 5% to about 20% ethanol and is applied in an amount of about 0.5 to about 2 ml per about 80 to about 100 grams of food product. The live yeast converts ethanol into acetaldehyde at a rate which imparts mold resistance to the food product for up to 6 months at refrigerated temperatures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Publication date: January 7, 2016
    Inventors: Gary Francis Smith, Keith D. Forneck
  • Publication number: 20160006296
    Abstract: A system includes a first converter, a second converter, a first rechargeable battery configured to output a current to the first converter, a second rechargeable battery configured to output a current to the second converter, and a control circuit coupled to the converters. Each rechargeable battery has a capacity and a number of remaining discharge cycles. The control circuit is configured to determine a remaining lifetime energy throughput of the first rechargeable battery and the second rechargeable battery based on their respective capacity and number of remaining discharge cycles, and in response to the remaining lifetime energy throughput of the first rechargeable battery and the remaining lifetime energy throughput of the second rechargeable battery not being substantially equal, control the first converter to adjust the current from the first rechargeable battery to change a rate of decrease of the remaining lifetime energy throughput of the first rechargeable battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Publication date: January 7, 2016
    Inventor: Michael Francis SMITH
  • Publication number: 20150380930
    Abstract: A battery backup unit (BBU) for supplying backup power to a load includes at least one battery, an output terminal for coupling to a load, a power converter having an input coupled to the at least one battery and an output coupled to the output terminal, and a bypass circuit having an input coupled to the at least one battery and an output coupled to the output terminal. The power converter is configured to regulate a voltage at the output terminal after startup of the power converter. The bypass circuit is configured to regulate the voltage at the output terminal during startup of the power converter. Other example systems including one or more BBUs are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Publication date: December 31, 2015
    Inventor: Michael Francis Smith
  • Publication number: 20150372537
    Abstract: A system for providing power to a load includes an output converter configured to provide power to a load, at least one battery coupled to the output converter, an input converter coupled to the at least one battery and the output converter, and a control circuit coupled to the input converter. The input converter is configured to provide an output voltage and an output current to the at least one battery and the output converter. The control circuit is configured to regulate the output voltage of the input converter at a defined voltage level to prevent the output converter from operating in a sleep mode. Other example systems, control circuits etc. are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2015
    Publication date: December 24, 2015
    Inventors: Michael Francis SMITH, Paul Brian HIIDEL, Julie JoAnn LEE
  • Publication number: 20150351393
    Abstract: Antimicrobial composition comprising a lactam and a hydrotrope. Antimicrobial additive composition containing a lactam and a hydrotrope.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2014
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Applicant: Conopco, Inc., d/b./a UNILEVER
    Inventors: Neil James PARRY, Joanne Clare O'KEEFFE, Christopher Francis SMITH
  • Publication number: 20150223969
    Abstract: A device for the treatment of bruxism may include an articulation plate worn on one of the upper or lower jaw and coupled to a bite plate worn on the other of the upper or lower jaw. Posts extending from one of the bite plate or articulation plate into housings in the other of the bite plate or articulation plate may couple the bite plate and articulation plate. The posts may include a solid, flexible material to allow for relative movement of the coupled bite plate and articulation plate. First articulating components on one of the bite plate or articulation plate may engage second articulating components on the other of the bite plate or articulation plate to allow for 360 degree articulating motion between the bite plate and articulation plate. A damper may adjust a distance between teeth received in the bite plate and teeth received in the articulation plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2015
    Publication date: August 13, 2015
    Inventor: Brian Francis SMITH
  • Patent number: 9062196
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a polymer blend comprising a first polycarbonate comprising a first structural unit derived from a 2-aryl-3,3-bis(4-hydroxyaryl)phthalimidine and a second structural unit derived from a dihydroxy aromatic compound, wherein the second structural unit is not identical to the first structural unit, and a second polycarbonate comprising a structural unit derived from a dihydroxy aromatic compound, wherein the polymer blend has a glass transition temperature of 155 to 200° C.; and wherein a test auricle having a thickness of 3.2 mm and molded from the blend has a haze of less than or equal to 3.0 measured in accordance with ASTM D1003-00. A method of making the polymer blend, and articles prepared from the blend, are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: SABIC GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES B.V.
    Inventors: Gautam Chatterjee, Gheorghe Cojocariu, Chandrashekhar Lingannaiah, Gaurav Mediratta, Shantaram Suryakant Morye, Gary Francis Smith, Veeraraghavan Srinivasan
  • Patent number: 9025438
    Abstract: A system and method for communication failover is disclosed. The disclosed embodiments allow voice communications (both inbound and outbound) that are normally carried by VoIP to be automatically switched over to a PSTN in the event of a failure of the VoIP communication network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Century Link Intellectual Property LLC
    Inventors: Charles A. Palmer, Kevin Thomas Boland, Donald Eugene Lawver, Jeffrey Francis Smith, William Lyle Wiley
  • Publication number: 20140317282
    Abstract: Techniques for measuring above-the-fold (ATF) page rendering are provided. Visible objects for an ATF portion of a browser page are identified. A start and end time for each visible object is recorded. Furthermore, a total elapsed time to finish loading each of the visible objects to the ATF portion of a browser is determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Inventors: Mahesh Subramanian, Eric Ye, Ramu Korlipara, Francis Smith
  • Publication number: 20140272073
    Abstract: Particulate natural cheese products having a modified starch composition as an anticaking agent as well as methods of melting the shredded cheese product are provided. The modified starch anticaking agent provides intact starch granules including amylopectin and substantially no amylose for the particulate cheese. During heating, the natural cheese melt is resistant to separation, and retains desirable organoleptic properties such as texture and flavor in the final product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Gary Francis Smith, Wibul Charintranond, Paul V. Gass, Brian E. LeVine, Andrew E. McPherson
  • Patent number: 8828914
    Abstract: A method of controlling or arresting the rate of depolymerization of a polymer composition during a biocide treatment by controlling the pH of the composition, and use of such methods in oilfield applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Rhodia Operations
    Inventors: Subramanian Kesavan, Gary Woodward, Adedamola Adedeji, Timothy Curtis, Francis Smith
  • Patent number: 8812648
    Abstract: Techniques for measuring above-the-fold (ATF) page rendering are provided. Visible objects for an ATF portion of a browser page are identified. A start and end time for each visible object is recorded. Furthermore, a total elapsed time to finish loading each of the visible objects to the ATF portion of a browser is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: eBay Inc.
    Inventors: Mahesh Subramanian, Eric Ye, Ramu Korlipara, Francis Smith
  • Publication number: 20140161954
    Abstract: Emulsifying salt-free processed cheese products as well as methods of preparing emulsifying salt-free processed cheese products are provided. The emulsifying salt-free processed cheese products are prepared with modified starch containing amylopectin and substantially no amylase and without emulsifying salts. The emulsifying salt-free processed cheese products are advantageously resistant to separation during heating and retain desirable organoleptic properties, such as texture and flavor, without using emulsifying salts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Inventors: Andrew Edward McPherson, Tori Ann Boomgaarden, Brian E. LeVine, Gary Francis Smith
  • Publication number: 20140030695
    Abstract: An autonomous control system can be used with one or more systems or components to improve the operation of the systems or components. For example, an autonomous control system can be used in combination with a biorefinery system to improve the operation of the biorefinery system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: Algae Aqua-Culture Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Francis Smith
  • Publication number: 20140024528
    Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, a plant cultivation composition is provided. The composition generally includes algae digestate and organic carbon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Applicant: Algae Aqua-Culture Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Francis Smith, Robert Michael Holecek, Robin Doria Kelson