Patents by Inventor Robert A. Burns

Robert A. Burns 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).

  • Publication number: 20060078378
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing a portable, rapid deployable barrier system which utilizes autonomous operation and one or more gas generators to rapidly activate the barrier. The invention includes a barrier component installed beneath the ground surface or substantially parallel to the ground and raised by activation of the gas generator. The device can be trigger automatically without human intervention and thereby faster deployment of the barrier. The invention permits the passage of pedestrians, vehicles, etc. or activation into a barrier position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2005
    Publication date: April 13, 2006
    Inventors: Robert Burns, Dennis Darling, Paul Hurburt, Gary Ketner
  • Patent number: 6988195
    Abstract: A vault controller manages resources in a secure environment or vault dedicated to an authorized user(s) for conducting electronic business in a distributed information system, e.g., the Internet. The controller includes a web server and a supervisor in a shared object library which runs as part of an HTTP daemon. The supervisor runs as a multi-threaded process and includes multiple service supervisor (SS) threads; a communication supervisor (CS) thread; a request supervisor (RS) thread; state and data tables and a vault daemon to support launching secure processes mapped to users through digital certificates included in user requests to the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2006
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corp.
    Inventors: Hamid Bacha, Robert Burns, Robert B. Carroll, Mark Fisk
  • Publication number: 20050276838
    Abstract: A method for inhibiting Rotavirus infection by administering effective amount of lactulose is provided. Lactulose can be administered alone, in combination with other nutrient supplements such as vitamins, or as part of a nutritional product such as infant formula.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2005
    Publication date: December 15, 2005
    Inventors: Mary Locniskar, Bryon Petschow, Robert Burns, Virginia Sickles, James Hansen
  • Publication number: 20050238427
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for installing and deploying a barrier utilizing one or more gas generators. The invention includes a barrier component installed beneath the ground surface or substantially parallel to the ground and raised by activation of the gas generator. The device can be trigger automatically without human intervention and thereby faster deployment of the barrier. The invention permits the passage of pedestrians, vehicles, etc. or activation into a barrier position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2004
    Publication date: October 27, 2005
    Inventors: Robert Burns, Dennis Drling, Paul Hurlburt, Gary Ketner
  • Publication number: 20050238424
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for installing and deploying a barrier utilizing one or more gas generators. The invention includes a barrier component installed beneath the ground surface or substantially parallel to the ground and raised by activation of the gas generator. The device can be trigger automatically without human intervention and thereby faster deployment of the barrier. The invention permits the passage of pedestrians, vehicles, etc. or activation into a barrier position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2004
    Publication date: October 27, 2005
    Inventors: Robert Burns, Dennis Darling, Paul Hurlburt, Gary Ketner
  • Publication number: 20050188636
    Abstract: A coupling nut for anchoring buildings to the ground, particularly in geographic regions subject to high wind conditions. The coupling nut is designed for use with threaded anchoring rods currently used in the construction industry. The coupling nut includes a head and body with at least the body portion being hollow. The internal surface of the body portion is threaded so as to mate with the threaded anchoring rod. The threaded anchoring rod extends into a hole in the foundation of the building. The coupling nut attaches to the rod from the opposite side of the foundation and, when used with an appropriate washer, securely anchors the foundation to the ground.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2005
    Publication date: September 1, 2005
    Inventor: Robert Burns
  • Patent number: 6931526
    Abstract: A vault controller manages resources in a secure environment or vault dedicated to an authorized user(s) for conducting electronic business in a distributed information system. The controller includes a web server and a supervisor in a shared object library, which runs as part of an HTTP daemon. The supervisor runs as a multi-threaded process with state and data tables and a vault daemon to support launching secure processes mapped to users through digital certificates. The vault daemon generates a password for a user request based on the user ID. The vault daemon launches a vault process (VP) running in a vault mapped to the user ID. After launching, the VP returns a message to the supervisor including a token identifying the thread. The supervisor sends the user request through a socket to the secure VP mapped to the user ID. The VP receives the request and launches a VP thread to handle the request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Hamid Bacha, Robert Burns, Robert B. Carroll, Mark Fisk
  • Publication number: 20050160976
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for concurrently applying to a first substrate, such as a layer of a roofing surface, for the purpose of securing the first substrate to a second substrate placed on the first substrate, a plurality of substantially parallel strips of an adhesive. The apparatus includes a carrier having motive supports for transporting the carrier along a path of travel over the first substrate. Mounted on the carrier is a rack for holding at least one canister containing the adhesive. Also mounted on the carrier is a discharging mechanism that is adapted to discharge the adhesive from the at least one canister as a plurality of adhesive strips when a driving force is applied to the discharging mechanism. The driving force is supplied to the discharging mechanism by an actuating mechanism that is also mounted on the carrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2004
    Publication date: July 28, 2005
    Inventor: Robert Burns
  • Publication number: 20050014717
    Abstract: A method for inhibiting Rotavirus infection by administering effective amount of lactulose is provided. Lactulose can be administered alone, in combination with other nutrient supplements such as vitamins, or as part of a nutritional product such as infant formula.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2004
    Publication date: January 20, 2005
    Inventors: Mary Locniskar, Bryon Petschow, Robert Burns, Virginia Sickles, James Hansen, Steven Rumsey
  • Patent number: 6715073
    Abstract: A secure-end-to-end communication system for electronic business system and method of operation, e.g., the Internet, includes a web server—vault controller having personal storage vaults in the controller for users, registration and certification authorities. Each personal vault runs programs on the controller under a unique UNIX user ID. Data storage is provided by the controller wherein the storage is owned by the same user ID assigned to the vault. A registration authority running as a software application in the controller processes requests to issue, renew and revoke digital certificates issued by a certification authority using two pairs of public-private keys. The registration authority interacts with the vault controller to decide whether an applicant qualifies to receive a digital certificate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Larry An, Hamid Bacha, Robert Briggs, Robert Burns, Robert B. Carroll, Mark Fisk, Hatem Ghafir, Raymond Good, Srinivasa Kasturi, Ku Lee, Drew Kittel, Lolo Lasida, Hiroshi Maruyama, Amit Pamecha, Paresh Patel, Dieter Poetzschke, Roger Reider, Khalid Asad
  • Publication number: 20040034769
    Abstract: A vault controller manages resources in a secure environment or vault dedicated to an authorized user(s) for conducting electronic business in a distributed information system, e.g., the Internet. The controller includes a web server and a supervisor in a shared object library which runs as part of an HTTP daemon. The supervisor runs as a multi-threaded process and includes multiple service supervisor (SS) threads; a communication supervisor (CS) thread; a request supervisor (RS) thread; state and data tables and a vault daemon to support launching secure processes mapped to users through digital certificates included in user requests to the controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2003
    Publication date: February 19, 2004
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Hamid Bacha, Robert Burns, Robert B. Carroll, Mark Fisk
  • Patent number: 6673091
    Abstract: A tool is used to assist in the manual insertion and removal of a needle into a medical device implanted under the skin of a patient. The tool includes an elongated body having a handle section and an enlarged guard section with an elongated slot extending from an edge of the guard section into the guard section, terminating at an internal portion of the guard section. Preferably, the guard section of this tool is transparent, and it has indicia thereon which assist in aligning the tool with the implanted medical device. The guard section may include a depression on its underside which overlies the implanted medical device when the guard is placed in position for accessing or deaccessing the needle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Inventors: Terry Shaffer, Jeanette Perlick, Robert Burns
  • Publication number: 20030179296
    Abstract: An apparatus to evaluate an illuminated panel comprises a camera to acquire a real-time digital color image of the illuminated panel and a stored digital color image of a standard illuminated panel. A monitor is provided to alternately display the real-time image and the stored image to detect any differences in the illuminated panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2002
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Inventors: Richard Duane Hill, Stephen P. Cook, Thomas J. Lipko, Robert Burns
  • Patent number: 6621954
    Abstract: A portion of an optical device is disclosed. In one aspect of the present invention, the device comprises a cylinder formed about an axis having first and second ends, the second end being formed so as to define a segment of an inward-facing concave spherical surface. A module is provided defining a cylinder formed about the axis and having first and second ends and an optical element disposed therein about the axis. The first end of the module is formed so as to define a segment of an outward-facing convex spherical surface, and the convex surface is complimentary in shape to the concave surface. The complimentary concave and convex surfaces of the cylinder and the module are mated so as to allow the optical element to be aligned about a plane forming a predetermined angle with the axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Finisar Corporation
    Inventors: Ping Xie, Kevin Zhang, Robert Burn, III
  • Publication number: 20030145894
    Abstract: A capillary reactor distribution device comprising first and second capillary pathways (2, 3) which meet at a junction (5) and a third capillary pathway (4) which leads away from the junction (5), the capillary pathways (2, 3, 4) being dimensioned such that, when first and second immiscible fluids (14, 15) are fed along respectively the first and second capillary pathways (2, 3) under predetermined laminar flow conditions, the first and second fluids (14, 15) chop each other into discrete slugs (16, 17) which pass along the third capillary pathway (4). Molecular mixing between the fluids (14, 15) takes place by way of axial diffusion between adjacent slugs (16, 17) and by way of internal circulation within each slug (16, 17) as the slugs (16, 17) progress along the third capillary pathway (4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2003
    Publication date: August 7, 2003
    Inventor: John Robert Burns
  • Publication number: 20030131460
    Abstract: A cylinder head elevator tool developed and constructed to expedite the replacement of cylinder head gaskets, pistons, connecting rods, liners or sleeves, intake valves, exhaust valves, and many other associated components in diesel engines. The cylinder head elevator includes a lower bracket or support bracket engageable with the diesel engine cylinder block, an upper bracket or cylinder head bracket, including a collar assembly, engageable with the cylinder head, and a hydraulic jack or hydraulic ram engageable at it's base with said lower bracket and engageable at its moveable shaft end with said upper bracket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2002
    Publication date: July 17, 2003
    Applicant: Detroit Diesel Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Robert Burns, Donald Harold Santhony
  • Patent number: 6155125
    Abstract: A six speed gear assembly is having a mainshaft, countershaft, mainshaft 1st-6th gears, countershaft 1st-6th gears, and 4th/6th gear shift member. A shifting assembly with a shifter cam having uniformly distributed and uniformly shaped detents that are engaged by the shift cam follower. The six speed gear assembly has modes of operation corresponding to six speeds (1st through 6th) and a neutral position. The sixth speed is an overdrive speed (the output from the transmission turns faster than the input to the transmission), while the first through fifth speeds correspond to conventional gear ratios.The six speed gear assembly and the shifting assembly fit within the transmission case of a Big Twin five speed transmission without the need to modify the transmission case. This allows the conversion of a Big Twin five speed transmission into a six speed transmission without removal or replacement of the transmission case and by replacing a minimal number of components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: Custom Chrome, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Stephen Negherbon, Robert Burns Bossler, Jr., Arthur Carl Williams, Daniel Stern
  • Patent number: 6083615
    Abstract: A structure is formed of at least two structural elements that are bonded together with an electrically conductive organic adhesive system. The adhesive system is a mixture of an organic adhesive such as a thermosetting epoxy and a filler of electrically conductive carbon particles having a porous, sponge-like structure. In one application, the structural elements are exterior panels of a spacecraft coated with an electrically conductive paint, and in other applications the structural elements are not coated. The adhesive system permits static electrical charge to flow through otherwise insulated joints to equalize the static potential throughout the structure and eventually to dissipate the charge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Hughes Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Lynn E. Long, Robert A. Burns, Randall J. Moss
  • Patent number: 6060064
    Abstract: Chimeric virus-like particles produced by a non-natural particle-forming protein. The non-natural particle forming protein comprises a self-assembling particle-forming first amino acid sequence substantially homologous with a yeast retrotransposon Ty p1 protein and a second amino acid sequence. The second sequence is antigenic and is incorporated within an epitope of the first amino acid sequence, which epitope, on particles formed from the first amino-acid sequence alone, is surface exposed. Particles formed from such proteins are immunogenic and can be used in immunotherapeutic or prophylactic vaccines or as diagnostic agents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: British Biotech Pharmaceuticals Limited
    Inventors: Sally Elizabeth Adams, Nigel Robert Burns, Simon Mark Richardson
  • Patent number: 5812590
    Abstract: A communication device (104) comprises a receiver circuit (108) receiving a modulated receive signal. A reference oscillator (132) generates a first clock signal at a first frequency, the first clock signal having harmonics. Circuitry (130) coupled to the reference oscillator and to the receiver responds to the first clock signal to produce a signal used by the receiver to reduce the frequency of the modulating signal. A frequency spreading circuit (134) is also coupled to the reference oscillator to modulate the first clock signal with a frequency spreading signal to produce a modulated clock signal including modulated harmonic frequency components. The frequency spreading circuit selectively combines the frequency spreading signal and the first clock signal. A control circuit (114) controls the frequency spreading circuit to modulate first clock signal with the frequency spreading signal when the selected received signal includes a harmonic of the first clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1998
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Redmond Black, Alexander Wayne Hietala, Mark Robert Burns