Patents by Inventor Kenneth J. Murphy

Kenneth J. Murphy 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: 11944130
    Abstract: A vaporizer device includes various modular components. The vaporizer device includes a first subassembly. The first subassembly includes a cartridge connector that secures a vaporizer cartridge to the vaporizer device and includes at least two receptacle contacts that electrically communicate with the vaporizer cartridge. The vaporizer device includes a second subassembly. The second subassembly includes a skeleton defining a rigid tray that retains at least a power source. The vaporizer device also includes a third subassembly. The third subassembly includes a plurality of charging contacts that supply power to the power source, and an end cap that encloses an end of the vaporizer device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: JUUL Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel C. Anderson, Wei-Ling Chang, Brandon Cheung, Steven Christensen, Joseph Chun, Joseph R. Fisher, Jr., Nicholas J. Hatton, Kevin Lomeli, James Monsees, Andrew L. Murphy, Claire O'Malley, John R. Pelochino, Hugh Pham, Vipul V. Rahane, Matthew J. Taschner, Val Valentine, Kenneth Wong
  • Patent number: 11932979
    Abstract: A laundry treating appliance for treating laundry items according to an automatic cycle of operation can include a cabinet defining an interior and having an access opening providing access to the interior. A tub can be located within the interior and can at least partially define a liquid chamber. A drum is rotatably mounted within the liquid chamber and at least partially defines a treating chamber. A clothes mover is located within the treating chamber and rotatable about a vertical axis. The clothes mover can include a base and a barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jonathan A. Andrejczuk, Adam Gary, Philip J. Czarnecki, Benjamin D. Lowell, Sayer J. Murphy, James Jeffery, Eric W. Merrow, Emmanuel F. Gonzaga, Thomas R. Scott, Donald E. Erickson, Bradley D. Morrow, Jason S. Burnette, Kevin Peralta, Corinne M. Gorenchan, Kenneth L. McConnell
  • Patent number: 8307643
    Abstract: An engine air intake system for a vehicle having an internal combustion engine may include a turbocharger; a CAC heat exchanger having an inlet end for receiving compressed intake air from the turbocharger and an outlet end; a remote condensate reservoir spaced from the CAC heat exchanger, for storing condensate therein; a condensate drain tube extending from the outlet end to the remote condensate reservoir to allow condensate produced in the CAC heat exchanger to flow into the remote condensate reservoir; an air duct connecting the outlet end to the engine to direct air flow from the outlet end to the engine; and a reservoir outlet hose connected to the remote condensate reservoir at a first end and connected to the air duct at a second end to allow condensate evaporating from the remote condensate reservoir to flow through the reservoir outlet hose into the air duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Richard D. Quinn, Brandon S. Helton, Kenneth J. Murphy, Tuan A Tran, Lawrence E. Walla
  • Publication number: 20110107760
    Abstract: An engine air intake system for a vehicle having an internal combustion engine may include a turbocharger; a CAC heat exchanger having an inlet end for receiving compressed intake air from the turbocharger and an outlet end; a remote condensate reservoir spaced from the CAC heat exchanger, for storing condensate therein; a condensate drain tube extending from the outlet end to the remote condensate reservoir to allow condensate produced in the CAC heat exchanger to flow into the remote condensate reservoir; an air duct connecting the outlet end to the engine to direct air flow from the outlet end to the engine; and a reservoir outlet hose connected to the remote condensate reservoir at a first end and connected to the air duct at a second end to allow condensate evaporating from the remote condensate reservoir to flow through the reservoir outlet hose into the air duct.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Richard D. Quinn, Brandon S. Helton, Kenneth J. Murphy, Tuan A. Tran, Lawrence E. Walla
  • Patent number: 5574385
    Abstract: A switch module for connection between a power source and a controlled load, and a method for its operation, the switch module being testable without regard to the nature of the load, the nature of the power source, or whether the switch is actually connected to the power supply and its controlled load. The switch module has two pairs of MOS FET solid state switches, each pair connected back-to-back to allow switching of alternating current (ac) as well as direct current (dc) in either direction. Each pair of switches in the module has an associated independent power source, which is used in the preferred embodiment of the invention to supply a control signal to each switch and to supply a test current through the switch when it is closed. Test pulses invert the state of each switch momentarily and corresponding test current pulses are observed if a switch is operating properly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1996
    Assignee: ICS Triplex, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Murphy, Walter J. Grams
  • Patent number: 4967347
    Abstract: A multiple-redundant computer system having multiple computational devices operating in synchronism, multiple voter circuits to provide voted memory reading operations for the devices, and multiple fault detection logic for the detection of failures of the computational devices. Fault status words generated by the fault detection logic are also subject to a voted read by the multiple computational devices, thereby permitting detection of errors in the fault detection logic itself, as well as in the computational devices. The module structure of the invention also permits removal and replacement of circuit modules, each including a computational device and fault detection logic, without disconnecting power from the entire system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 30, 1990
    Assignee: BH-F (Triplex) Inc.
    Inventors: Steven E. Smith, Kenneth J. Murphy
  • Patent number: 4926281
    Abstract: A protected digital output circuit coupled to a programmable controller, for controlling a load supplied through alternating-current (ac) power lines, including a fuse and a single controlled output switch connected in series with the load, and a pair of series-connected crowbar switches connected together across the ac power lines. The crowbar switches can be commanded closed together in the event that the output switch is commanded open but fails to open, thereby shorting the ac power lines and disconnecting the load by blowing the fuse. In routine diagnostic testing, the crowbar switches can be commanded closed separately to check their operation without blowing the fuse. A current detection circuit is used to check for current in the closed crowbar switch. A current sensor is also used to detect current through the output switch, when commanded closed for switching the load on, or for diagnostic turn-on testing when the load is disconnected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 15, 1990
    Assignee: Triplex
    Inventor: Kenneth J. Murphy
  • Patent number: 4868826
    Abstract: Circuit modules for providing digital or analog outputs from computational devices in such a manner that the components of the output circuit modules are tolerant of malfunctions in one or more of the components. In the digital output embodiment of the invention, output signals are independently derived using two voting circuits and are then applied to two switches connected in series to provide a fail-safe condition for most types of failure of the switches or the voting circuits. Two identical modules provide the ability to faithfully follow commanded on or off signals in all but a statistically small number of situations, and permit convenient replacement of a defective module without affecting output through the other module. In an analog output module, two independent voting circuits provide voted digital outputs to separate digital-to-analog converters, the outputs of which are compared to generate a validity signal that is used to control an output switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1989
    Assignee: Triplex
    Inventors: Steven E. Smith, Janusz M. Kucharski, Kenneth J. Murphy
  • Patent number: 4643446
    Abstract: A mobile chair for the handicapped includes a seat frame, a front support frame and a removable rear support frame. The seal frame is pivotable with respect to the front support frame selectively to vary the position of the seat frame. The rear support frame is releasable from the front support frame and is connected thereto by a toggle mechanism at the rear and a pivotal releasable ball and socket joint at the front. To place the chair in a car or other vehicle, the front of the chair is first placed on the vehicle floor, the rear toggle connection is released and the seat frame and front support frame are placed on the vehicle seat. The ball and socket joint permits the seat frame and front support frame to be pivoted into the car and placed on the seat while the rear support frame remains essentially stationary outside the vehicle. Once the chair is in the vehicle, the ball and socket connection is released and the rear support frame may be removed and stowed elsewhere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1987
    Assignee: The STC Companies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Murphy, Gerald R. Baker, Matthew F. Gard