Patents by Inventor Robert Watts

Robert Watts 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: 10976542
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure describe systems, methods, and structures for aberration correction of optical phased arrays that employ a corrective optical path difference (OPD) in the near-field of an OPA to correct or cancel out aberrations in emitted beams of the OPA including those reaching far-field distances by generating a spatially-varying OPD across the aperture of the OPA that is substantially equal and opposite to an equivalent OPD of the aberration(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Analog Photonics LLC
    Inventors: Peter Nicholas Russo, Ehsan Hosseini, Christopher Poulton, Erman Timurdogan, Diedrik Vermeulen, Michael Robert Watts, Michael Whitson
  • Patent number: 10913211
    Abstract: Embodiments herein include a system for joining components. The system can include a rotating base platform, a plurality of receptacles mounted to the base platform, and a rotating sonotrode platform. A plurality of sonotrodes are mounted to the sonotrode platform. Each sonotrode can correspond to a receptacle. Each sonotrode can move in a reciprocating motion between a release position distant from a corresponding receptacle and a compressing position proximal to the corresponding receptacle. The compressing position occurs at a first angular position of the sonotrode platform. Each sonotrode is energized at the compressing position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Campbell Soup Company
    Inventor: Mark Robert Watts
  • Publication number: 20200393737
    Abstract: An optical switching apparatus comprises: input ports receiving respective input optical waves, each coupled to a respective beam-forming structure comprising: an input optical waveguide, an optical power distributor to distribute optical power from a mode of the optical waveguide over the respective spatial region, and a spatially distributed phase shifter to apply different transmission optical phase shifts over different portions of the respective spatial region, where the transmission optical phase shifts determine the selected transmission angle; and output ports providing respective output optical waves, each coupled to a respective beam-receiving structure comprising: a spatially distributed phase shifter to apply different reception optical phase shifts over different portions of the respective spatial region, where the reception optical phase shifts determine the selected reception angle, an optical power combiner to combine optical power from different portions of the respective spatial region into
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2020
    Publication date: December 17, 2020
    Applicants: Analog Photonics LLC, Analog Photonics LLC
    Inventors: Ehsan Shah Hosseini, Michael Robert Watts, Matthew Byrd
  • Publication number: 20200379172
    Abstract: A plurality of waveguide structures are formed in at least one silicon layer of a first member. The first member includes: a first surface of a first silicon dioxide layer that is attached to a second member that consists essentially of an optically transmissive material having a thermal conductivity less than about 50 W/(m·K), and a second surface of material that was deposited over at least some of the plurality of waveguide structures. An array of phase shifters is formed in one or more layers of the first member. An array of temperature controlling elements are in proximity to the array of phase shifters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2020
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Inventors: Michael Robert Watts, Benjamin Roy Moss, Ehsan Shah Hosseini, Christopher Vincent Poulton, Peter Nicholas Russo
  • Publication number: 20200379185
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure describe large scale steerable optical switched arrays that may be fabricated on a common substrate including many thousands or more emitters that may be arranged in a curved pattern at the focal plane of a lens thereby allowing the directional control of emitted light and selective reception of reflected light suitable for use in imaging, ranging, and sensing applications including accident avoidance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2020
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Inventors: Ehsan Shah Hosseini, Michael Robert Watts
  • Publication number: 20200319524
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure describe systems, methods, and structures providing speckle reduction in photonic phased array structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Inventors: Ehsan Shah Hosseini, Michael Robert Watts, Peter Nicholas Russo
  • Publication number: 20200292913
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure describe optical structures and devices, and more particularly to improved, tunable optical structures including optical gratings that are dynamically affected and/or tuned by acousto-optic or electro-optic mechanisms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Inventors: Erman Timurdogan, Ehsan Shah Hosseini, Michael Robert Watts, Michael J. Whitson
  • Patent number: 10775559
    Abstract: A plurality of waveguide structures are formed in at least one silicon layer of a first member. The first member includes: a first surface of a first silicon dioxide layer that is attached to a second member that consists essentially of an optically transmissive material having a thermal conductivity less than about 50 W/(m·K), and a second surface of material that was deposited over at least some of the plurality of waveguide structures. An array of phase shifters is formed in one or more layers of the first member. An array of temperature controlling elements are in proximity to the array of phase shifters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Analog Photonics LLC
    Inventors: Michael Robert Watts, Benjamin Roy Moss, Ehsan Shah Hosseini, Christopher Poulton, Peter Nicholas Russo
  • Publication number: 20200217961
    Abstract: At least one beam of an optical wave is transmitted along a transmission angle toward a target location from a send aperture of a transmitter. The optical wave comprises at least a first portion, and a second portion having a different characteristic from a characteristic of the first portion. Two or more receivers include at least one receiver comprising: a receive aperture arranged in proximity to at least one of the send aperture or a receive aperture of a different receiver, an optical phased array within the receive aperture, the optical phased array being configured to receive at least a portion of a collected optical wave arriving at the receive aperture along a respective collection angle, and a filter configured to filter the received portion of the collected optical wave according to the characteristic of the first portion of the optical wave.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Inventors: Peter Nicholas Russo, Christopher Vincent Poulton, Matthew Byrd, Zhan Su, Ehsan Hosseini, Michael Robert Watts
  • Publication number: 20200189246
    Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to multilayer recyclable films for food packaging. In an embodiment, a multilayer packaging film is included with a first polymeric layer, a second polymeric layer, and a third polymeric layer. The first layer and the third layer can directly contact opposite sides of the second layer. The first layer and the third layer can be directly bonded to the second layer via a welding process. The first polymeric layer, the second polymeric layer, and the third polymeric layer can each contain the same thermoplastic polymer. The second polymeric layer can include an amount of a functional additive that is different than the first and third polymeric layers. Other embodiments are also included herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventors: Hua Liu, Mark Robert Watts, Rasheed Mohammed
  • Patent number: 10568952
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of bacteriology. In particular, the invention relates to methods and compositions for treatment and prevention of infection in wounds, and methods for producing and storing bacterial donor organisms for conjugation-based antibacterial agents. The present invention relates to the field of bacteriology and pharmacology. In particular, the invention relates to novel compositions (e.g., antimicrobial agents) and methods of using the same for treating tissue (e.g., lesions of the skin and other soft tissues) comprising the killing or altering (e.g., inhibiting) growth and virulence of populations of microorganisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Atterx Biotherapeutics, Inc.
    Inventors: Caleb William Dorsey, Joshua Aaron Smith, Steven Robert Watt
  • Publication number: 20200054046
    Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to systems and methods for thermally processing packaged food products with highly-uniform electromagnetic energy fields. In an embodiment, a method of thermally processing a packaged food product is included herein. The method can include placing the packaged food product in a heating chamber, the packaged food product comprising a hermetically sealed package and a food material disposed within the package. The method can further include applying electromagnetic energy to the packaged food product from a first electromagnetic energy source from a first direction. The electromagnetic energy can be sufficient to raise the temperature of the food material by at least 50 degrees Fahrenheit with a spatial temperature variation of less than 25 degrees Fahrenheit in less than 120 seconds. Other embodiments are also included herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2019
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Inventors: Scott Wayne Keller, Jungang Wang, Mark Robert Watts, Mark Firary, Rasheed Mohammed
  • Publication number: 20190389643
    Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to microwaveable food containers and food products for high-temperature cooking applications and related methods. In an embodiment, a disposable microwaveable food container for high-temperature cooking applications is included. The container can include an inner cup including a bottom wall, a side wall connected to the bottom wall, the side wall comprising a top, and a top seal layer in contact with the top of the side wall. The bottom wall and side wall together can define a reservoir to hold a food material. An outer cover shell can include a bottom wall, a side wall connected to the bottom wall, a top wall connected the side wall, and a support structure for supporting the inner cup. The support structure can contact the inner cup and hold it in a position with a bottom gap, a side gap, and a top gap. Other embodiments are also included herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2019
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Inventors: Hua Liu, Mark Robert Watts, Brandon James Knapp
  • Publication number: 20190350231
    Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to articles and methods for detecting heating patterns within model food compositions containing irreversible thermochromic ink, and for creating multi-dimensional temperature distribution profiles within a packaged model food composition. In an embodiment, a packaged model food composition for thermal testing is included. The packaged model food composition can include a package and a model food composition disposed in the package. The model food composition can include a model food material that shares processing characteristics with a target food material and 0.05 wt. % to 20 wt. % of one or more irreversible thermochromic inks. The irreversible thermochromic inks can exhibit a variable change in at least one color parameter in response to temperature change across a selected temperature range. Other embodiments are also included herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2019
    Publication date: November 21, 2019
    Inventors: Hua Liu, Mark Robert Watts
  • Publication number: 20190350230
    Abstract: The present application relates to food product carriers for microwave or radiofrequency sterilization or pasteurization of food products. In an embodiment, a method of processing a hermetically sealed packaged food product with microwave or radiofrequency energy to achieve sterilization or pasteurization is included. The method can include loading one or more hermetically sealed packaged food products into a carrier, the hermetically sealed packaged food products having a non-uniform thickness. The carrier can include a first press plate and a second press plate. The method can further include reducing a gap distance between the first press plate and the second press plate sufficiently to compress a portion of the hermetically sealed packaged food product and applying at least one of microwave or radiofrequency energy to the food product to result in sterilization or pasteurization. Other embodiments are also included herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Publication date: November 21, 2019
    Inventor: Mark Robert Watts
  • Publication number: 20190350229
    Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to food products and food product carriers for electromagnetic wave food processing systems and methods. In an embodiment, a carrier for holding food products during a sterilization or pasteurization process is included. The carrier can include a lower housing portion defining a central peak and an upper housing portion configured to fit over the lower housing portion. The upper housing portion can define a central peak. The carrier can be configured to receive a flexible food package between the lower central peak and the upper central peak. Other embodiments are also included herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Publication date: November 21, 2019
    Inventor: Mark Robert Watts
  • Publication number: 20190306218
    Abstract: While a stream device is streaming a media program from a multimedia device to a client device, the streaming device may be configured to send a first portion of the media program to the client device, where the first portion is transcoded from a first format into a second different format and adapted for a first playing mode of the client device. The streaming device may be configured to receive an indication of a user command from the client device specifying a second different playing mode of the client device. The streaming device may be configured to send a second different portion of the media program to the client device, where the second portion is transcoded from the first format to the second format and adapted for the second playing mode of the client device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2019
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Inventors: Robert Watts, Michael Minakami, Bhavya Bambhania
  • Publication number: 20190243081
    Abstract: A plurality of waveguide structures are formed in at least one silicon layer of a first member. The first member includes: a first surface of a first silicon dioxide layer that is attached to a second member that consists essentially of an optically transmissive material having a thermal conductivity less than about 50 W/(m·K), and a second surface of material that was deposited over at least some of the plurality of waveguide structures. An array of phase shifters is formed in one or more layers of the first member. An array of temperature controlling elements are in proximity to the array of phase shifters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2019
    Publication date: August 8, 2019
    Inventors: Michael Robert Watts, Benjamin Roy Moss, Ehsan Shah Hosseini, Christopher Poulton, Peter Nicholas Russo
  • Publication number: 20190235233
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure describe systems, methods, and structures for aberration correction of optical phased arrays that employ a corrective optical path difference (OPD) in the near-field of an OPA to correct or cancel out aberrations in emitted beams of the OPA including those reaching far-field distances by generating a spatially-varying OPD across the aperture of the OPA that is substantially equal and opposite to an equivalent OPD of the aberration(s).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Applicant: ANALOG PHOTONICS LLC
    Inventors: Peter Nicholas RUSSO, Ehsan HOSSEINI, Christopher POULTON, Erman TIMURDOGAN, Diedrik VERMEULEN, Michael Robert WATTS, Michael WHITSON
  • Patent number: 10354676
    Abstract: Input media data with an input playing speed is received and divided into input media data subsets. A first rate of audio utterance is determined for a first input media data subset in the media data subsets. A second different rate of audio utterance is determined for a second input media data subset in the media data subsets. Audio output media data is generated with an output playing speed at which audio utterance in the audio output media data is played at a preferred rate of audio utterance. The audio output media data comprises (a) a first output audio media data subset generated based on the preferred rate, the first rate, and the first input media data subset and (b) a second output audio media data subset generated based on the preferred rate, the second rate, and the second input media data subset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: TIVO SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventor: Robert Watts