Patents by Inventor William F. Smith

William F. 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: 11972086
    Abstract: A system for automatically increasing a capacity of a virtual space in a virtual world may include a processor and a module operating on the processor for detecting an attempt by an avatar to enter a virtual space in a virtual world. The system may also include another module for determining if an allowable number of avatars is currently in the virtual space. The allowable number of avatars may be determined by at least a capacity of a server that is hosting the virtual space. Another module may be provided for increasing a capacity of the virtual space when the allowable number of avatars is currently in the virtual space. Increasing the capacity of the virtual space may include spawning a replicate new virtual space on a different server in response to the capacity of the server that is hosting the virtual space reaching the allowable number of avatars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Activision Publishing, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter F. Haggar, Brian R. Bokor, Daniel E. House, William B. Nicol, II, Andrew B. Smith, Luis J. Ostdiek
  • Patent number: 11951603
    Abstract: A power tool is provided including a tool housing including a motor housing and a handle portion extending longitudinally from the motor housing; a battery receptacle disposed at an end of the handle portion opposite the motor housing, the battery receptacle being configured to receive a battery pack; and a brushless DC (BLDC) motor including an electronically-commutated stator assembly and a rotor assembly configured to rotate with respect to the stator assembly, the stator assembly comprising a stator lamination stack sized to be received within the motor housing having a circumference of approximately 140 to approximately 190 mm. The motor produces a maximum power output of at least 1600 watts for driving an output shaft at a maximum torque of at least 30 inch-pounds and a maximum speed of at least 8000 rotations-per-minute.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph P. Kelleher, William F. Gallagher, Craig A. Oktavec, David J. Smith, Jarrett A. Dunston
  • Publication number: 20240081843
    Abstract: Systems, techniques, and devices are described that may be used in a minimally invasive bone realignment procedure. In some examples, a method of performing a minimally invasive metatarsal correction procedure involves using a bone preparation guide having a guide surface with a length less than a diameter of a bone to be cut using the guide surface. The clinician can guide a bone preparation instrument along the guide surface and angle the bone preparation instrument beyond one or both ends of the guide surface to cut the end of the underlying bone beyond one or both of the ends.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventors: Adriaan Kuyler, Paul Dayton, Mark Erik Easley, William T. DeCarbo, Daniel J. Hatch, Jody McAleer, Robert D. Santrock, W. Bret Smith, Sean F. Scanlan, Jason May, Michael Stedham
  • Publication number: 20240039017
    Abstract: A fuel cell comprising a series of cascaded cell stacks comprising at least one humidifier-degasser coupled to the cell stacks proximate a stack inlet; the at least one humidifier-degasser comprising at least one degasification section fluidly coupled upstream of at least one humidifier section; and at least one inert concentrator cell coupled downstream from the cell stacks proximate a stack vent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2023
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Inventors: Jay LaGrange, John Fayer, James McElroy, William F. Smith
  • Patent number: 11777114
    Abstract: A fuel cell comprising a series of cascaded cell stacks comprising at least one humidifier-degasser coupled to the cell stacks proximate a stack inlet; the at least one humidifier-degasser comprising at least one degasification section fluidly coupled upstream of at least one humidifier section; and at least one inert concentrator cell coupled downstream from the cell stacks proximate a stack vent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: INFINITY FUEL CELL AND HYDROGEN, INC.
    Inventors: Jay LaGrange, John Fayer, James McElroy, William F. Smith
  • Publication number: 20220359900
    Abstract: A Multi-Mode Regenerative Fuel Cell system comprising a non-flow thru fuel cell operatively coupled to a high or medium pressure electrolyzer; a distributed reactant storage assembly comprising at least one hydrogen storage means and at least one oxygen storage means, said distributed reactant storage assembly operatively coupled to said fuel cell and electrolyzer; a pilot oxygen storage means operatively coupled to said oxygen storage means; a water storage means operatively coupled to said fuel cell and electrolyzer, and an aircraft power load operatively coupled to said fuel cell and electrolyzer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2020
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Applicant: Infinity Fuel Cell and Hydrogen, Inc.
    Inventor: William F. Smith
  • Patent number: 11384816
    Abstract: Some embodiments of a gearbox for an irrigation system can comprise a housing, a worm gear within the housing, a bull gear within the housing and configured to be engaged with the worm gear, a diaphragm, and a vent. The diaphragm can define a chamber configured for expansion and contraction and configured to be positioned inside the housing to relieve pressure build-up within the housing. The vent can be configured to allow air to flow between the atmosphere and the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: UNIVERSAL MOTION COMPONENTS CO., INC.
    Inventors: William F. Smith, Raymond Lee Call, II
  • Publication number: 20220077475
    Abstract: An anode gas diffusion layer for a proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzer includes a porous stainless steel sheet formed by a powder metallurgical technique.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2021
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Inventors: Arne BALLANTINE, Chockkalingam KARUPPAIAH, William F. SMITH
  • Publication number: 20200321639
    Abstract: A fuel cell comprising a series of cascaded cell stacks comprising at least one humidifier-degasser coupled to the cell stacks proximate a stack inlet; the at least one humidifier-degasser comprising at least one degasification section fluidly coupled upstream of at least one humidifier section; and at least one inert concentrator cell coupled downstream from the cell stacks proximate a stack vent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Applicant: Infinity Fuel Cell and Hydrogen, Inc.
    Inventors: Jay LaGrange, John Fayer, James McElroy, William F. Smith
  • Publication number: 20200256428
    Abstract: Some embodiments of a gearbox for an irrigation system can comprise a housing, a worm gear within the housing, a bull gear within the housing and configured to be engaged with the worm gear, a diaphragm, and a vent. The diaphragm can define a chamber configured for expansion and contraction and configured to be positioned inside the housing to relieve pressure build-up within the housing. The vent can be configured to allow air to flow between the atmosphere and the chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Inventors: William F. Smith, Raymond Lee Call, II
  • Patent number: 10734732
    Abstract: An optically tunable metamaterial unit cell is provided for photonic switching. The cell is optically tunable and includes a dielectric substrate with upper and lower surfaces. The cell further includes arrays of metamaterial elements and a layer of photo-capacitive material. The arrays are disposed the upper surface of the dielectric substrate. The metamaterial is capable of reflecting electromagnetic radiation. The layer of photo-capacitive material overlaps the arrays of metamaterial elements. The photo-capacitive material is optically tunable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Simin Feng, Kevin A. Boulais, Walter D. Sessions, Pearl Rayms-Keller, Robert B. Nichols, William F. Smith, Karen J. Long, Michael S. Lowry
  • Patent number: 10615506
    Abstract: A control device is provided for photonic switching. The device includes an optically tunable metamaterial unit cell. This structure includes a dielectric substrate; at least two arrays of metamaterial elements located on the top surface thereof, the metamaterial being capable of reflecting electromagnetic radiation, and a layer of photo-capacitive material overlapping the at least two arrays of metamaterial elements, the photo-capacitance of the photo-capacitive material being optically tunable; and a reflectarray or phased array system containing the unit cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Simin Feng, Kevin A. Boulais, Walter D. Sessions, Pearl Rayms-Keller, Robert B. Nichols, William F. Smith, Karen J. Long, Michael S. Lowry
  • Patent number: 10502283
    Abstract: Some embodiments of a gearbox for an irrigation system can comprise a housing, a worm gear within the housing, a bull gear within the housing and configured to be engaged with the worm gear, a diaphragm, and a vent. The diaphragm can define a chamber configured for expansion and contraction and configured to be positioned inside the housing to relieve pressure build-up within the housing. The vent can be configured to allow air to flow between the atmosphere and the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: UNIVERSAL MOTION COMPONENTS CO., INC.
    Inventors: William F. Smith, Raymond Lee Call, II
  • Patent number: 10352398
    Abstract: Some embodiments of a gearbox for an irrigation system can comprise a housing, a worm gear within the housing, a bull gear within the housing and configured to be engaged with the worm gear, a diaphragm, and a vent. The diaphragm can define a chamber configured for expansion and contraction and configured to be positioned inside the housing to relieve pressure build-up within the housing. The vent can be configured to allow air to flow between the atmosphere and the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: UNIVERSAL MOTION COMPONENTS CO., INC.
    Inventors: William F. Smith, Raymond Lee Call, II
  • Publication number: 20190113520
    Abstract: Databases methods and reagents are disclosed for the generation of large amounts of biomarker data from readily obtained sample such as dried plasma spots, and for uses of such databases in the development of patient categorization or detection of changes in a patient's health status over time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Publication date: April 18, 2019
    Inventors: John Blume, Ryan Benz, Jeffrey Jones, William F. Smith, Phong Cun, Bruce Wilcox
  • Publication number: 20180216705
    Abstract: Some embodiments of a gearbox for an irrigation system can comprise a housing, a worm gear within the housing, a bull gear within the housing and configured to be engaged with the worm gear, a diaphragm, and a vent. The diaphragm can define a chamber configured for expansion and contraction and configured to be positioned inside the housing to relieve pressure build-up within the housing. The vent can be configured to allow air to flow between the atmosphere and the chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2018
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Inventors: William F. Smith, Raymond Lee Call, II
  • Publication number: 20170335923
    Abstract: Some embodiments of a gearbox for an irrigation system can comprise a housing, a worm gear within the housing, a bull gear within the housing and configured to be engaged with the worm gear, a diaphragm, and a vent. The diaphragm can define a chamber configured for expansion and contraction and configured to be positioned inside the housing to relieve pressure build-up within the housing. The vent can be configured to allow air to flow between the atmosphere and the chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Publication date: November 23, 2017
    Inventors: William F. Smith, Raymond Lee Call, II
  • Patent number: 9118040
    Abstract: An electrochemical cell having a water/gas porous separator prepared from a polymeric material and one or more conductive cell components that pass through, or are located in close proximity to, the water/gas porous separator, is provided. The inventive cell provides a high level of in-cell electrical conductivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Infinity Fuel Cell and Hydrogen, Inc.
    Inventors: William F. Smith, James F. McElroy, Jay W. LaGrange
  • Patent number: 8715871
    Abstract: An electrochemical cell having two or more diffusion bonded layers, which demonstrates a high degree of ruggedness, reliability, efficiency and attitude insensitiveness, is provided. The novel cell structure simplifies construction and operation of these cells. Also provided is a method for passive water removal from these cells. The inventive cell, as well as stacks made using these cells, is suitable for use in applications such as commercial space power systems, long endurance aircraft, undersea power systems, remote backup power systems, and regenerative fuel cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Infinity Fuel Cell and Hydrogen, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Callahan, James F. McElroy, Alfred Meyer, William F. Smith
  • Publication number: 20130302707
    Abstract: An electrochemical cell having two or more diffusion bonded layers, which demonstrates a high degree of ruggedness, reliability, efficiency and attitude insensitiveness, is provided. The novel cell structure simplifies construction and operation of these cells. Also provided is a method for passive water removal from these cells. The inventive cell, as well as stacks made using these cells, is suitable for use in applications such as commercial space power systems, long endurance aircraft, undersea power systems, remote backup power systems, and regenerative fuel cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2013
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Inventors: Christopher Callahan, James F. McElroy, Alfred Meyer, William F. Smith