Patents Represented by Attorney Fletcher Yoder
  • Patent number: 8060171
    Abstract: A sensor for pulse oximetry or other applications utilizing spectrophotometry may be adapted to reduce motion artifacts by fixing the optical distance between an emitter and detector. A flexible sensor is provided with a stiffening member to hold the emitter and detector of the sensor in a relatively fixed position when applied to a patient. Further, an annular or partially annular sensor is adapted to hold an emitter and detector of the sensor in a relatively fixed position when applied to a patient. A clip-style sensor is provided with a spacer that controls the distance between the emitter and detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Nellcor Puritan Bennett LLC
    Inventors: Carine Hoarau, Clark R. Baker, Jr., Edward Karst
  • Patent number: 8060170
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include systems and methods that relate to pulse oximetry. Specifically, one embodiment includes an oximeter sensor, comprising a light emitting element configured to emit light, a light detector configured to receive the light, and a memory device that stores data comprising drift parameters indicative of changes to operating properties of the oximeter sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group
    Inventors: Paul D. Mannheimer, Michael E. Fein, Marcia Fein, legal representative
  • Patent number: 8058367
    Abstract: Techniques are provided for producing polymer particles of a size just slightly larger than the size of polymer fines. The technique may prevent or limit the occurrence of reactor fouls associated with large polymer particles. The technique also may provide a greater weight percentage of solids in the reactor. The desired polymer particle size may be achieved by employing a catalyst having particles of a size determined based on the expected catalyst productivity. In certain embodiments, the catalyst particle size may be determined based on the expected catalyst productivity, the polymer particle density, the catalyst particle density, and/or the polymer particle size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP
    Inventors: John D. Hottovy, Gregory G. Hendrickson
  • Patent number: 8057886
    Abstract: A system for altering a functionality of an optical article from a pre-activated state to an activated state, comprising an optical article comprising an optical data layer for storing data, an external radiation source for generating an external stimulus adapted to interact with the optical article, such interaction causing a change in optical accessibility of optically stored data, a directing material, wherein said directing material is for directing the external stimulus to selective portions of the optical article, thereby altering the functionality of the optical article from a pre-activated state to an activated state; a convertible element capable of responding to the external stimulus to irreversibly alter the optical article from the pre-activated state of functionality to the activated state of functionality, wherein said convertible element comprises a color-shift dye, a magnetic material, a thermo-chromic material, a magneto-optical material, a light scattering material, a phase-change material,
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: NBCUniversal Media, LLC
    Inventors: Marc Brian Wisnudel, Terry Michael Topka, Pingfan Peter Wu, Radislav Alexandrovich Potyrailo, David Gilles Gascoyne, William David Smith, Adil Minoo Dhalla, Yogendrasinh Bharatsinh Chauhan, Rupesh Bhikaji Pawar, Bharat Singh, Sriramakrishna Maruvada, Vandita Pai-Paranjape, Kenneth Brakeley Welles, II, Philippe Schottland, Eugene George Olczak, Ashok Menon
  • Patent number: 8053990
    Abstract: A system, in certain embodiments, includes a high intensity discharge lamp having a composite leg. The composite leg includes a plurality of leg sections coupled together in series. The plurality of leg sections includes different materials, coefficients of thermal expansion, Poisson's ratios, or elastic moduli, or a combination thereof. A method, in certain embodiments, includes enclosing a high intensity discharge within a ceramic arc envelope. The method also includes reducing thermal stresses associated with the high intensity discharge via a composite leg extending outwardly from the ceramic arc envelope. The composite leg includes a plurality of leg sections coupled together in series. The plurality of leg sections includes different materials, coefficients of thermal expansion, Poisson's ratios, or elastic moduli, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bernard Patrick Bewlay, Bruce Alan Knudsen, Mohamed Rahmane, James Scott Vartuli, James Anthony Brewer
  • Patent number: 8055054
    Abstract: A non-destructive evaluation system and method is provided for detecting flaws in an object. The system includes a lamp for impinging the object with optical pulses and a focal plane array camera configured to capture the images corresponding to evolution of heat due to an impact of the optical pulses in the object. The system also includes an image acquisition system for capturing data corresponding to the images from the focal plane array camera. Both transmission mode imaging and reflection mode imaging techniques are used in an exemplary embodiment. A time of flight analysis system is also provided for analyzing the data from both transmission mode imaging technique and reflection mode imaging technique. The data from transmission mode imaging is used to determine thickness values at different points in the data and for determining location of flaws using the thickness values. The data from reflection mode imaging is used for determining depth of these flaws.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Harry Israel Ringermacher, Donald Robert Howard, Bryon Edward Knight
  • Patent number: 8053260
    Abstract: Large-Area lighting systems and methods of making the same. More specifically, groups of organic light emitting modules, such as organic light emitting diode modules, coupled in series with respect to on another are provided. The modules cathode of each organic light emitting module is electrically coupled to the anode of an adjacent light emitting module in an interconnect region. A portion of the cathode of each module extends adjacent to an active area of an adjacent module at an interconnect region. Methods of fabricating series groups of organic light emitting modules employing continuous material layers is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Donald Franklin Foust, Larry Gene Turner, Ernest Wayne Balch, Hak Fei Poon, William Francis Nealon, Jie Liu, Tami Janene Faircloth
  • Patent number: 8055596
    Abstract: A technique is provided for developing a propensity model for customer behavior. Multiple biased samples of customer characteristics and results from past activities are established. Initial propensity models are created for each biased sample. The propensity models established for each biased sample are processed separately from the propensity models established for the other biased samples. A genetic algorithm is used to evolve the propensity models. A select number of propensity models that best fit their respective biased samples are compared to a validation sample that is unbiased. A select number of these propensity models that best fit the validation sample are cross-bred into the propensity models established for each biased sample. The propensity models for each biased sample are then processed again using the genetic algorithms. However, a number of elite propensity models are maintained in their original form and not evolved using the genetic algorithm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Tarun Bhaskar, Ramasubramanian Gangaikondan Sundararajan
  • Patent number: 8053777
    Abstract: A detector including an electrode formed from a first layer of conductive material, a readout line formed from a second layer of conductive material, and a via electrically connecting the readout line and the electrode. In one embodiment, the detector includes a source electrode and a drain electrode formed from the first layer of conductive material, and a data line formed from the second layer of conductive material, such that the source and drain electrodes are vertically offset from the data line. Alternatively, in another embodiment, the detector includes a gate electrode formed from the first layer of conductive material, and a scan line formed from the second layer of conductive material, such that the gate electrode is vertically offset from the scan line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Douglas Albagli, William Andrew Hennessy
  • Patent number: 8055039
    Abstract: In dual energy CT, through basis material decomposition (BMD), a pair of density images can be reconstructed. The noises in this image pair are negatively correlated due to the BMD process. A technique is presented for obtaining the monochromatic images at desired energy levels with reduced correlation noise. The technique includes obtaining a plurality of optimum attenuation coefficients for an energy level, selecting a desired energy level, obtaining a plurality of desired attenuation coefficients for the desired energy level, computing a scaling factor for a corresponding noise component based on the optimum attenuation coefficients and the desired attenuation coefficients, and generating a monochromatic image based upon the scaling factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Xiaoye Wu, David Allen Langan, James Walter LeBlanc
  • Patent number: 8052770
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include a filter clamping device for use in a filtering system that provides filtered intake air for a power generation facility. In some embodiments, a filter clamp is provided, which includes an over-center action mechanism that locks the clamp in place against the filter gasket. Some embodiments also include a camming surface that provides gradually increasing pressure on the filter gasket as the clamp is engaged. The clamp may also include a stop that engages the filter frame at a predetermined position and determines, in part, the amount of clamping pressure applied to the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gordon Ayshford, William Eyers
  • Patent number: 8051441
    Abstract: An optical article for playback in a player includes a plurality of optically detectable marks disposed on a surface of the optical article; wherein the plurality of optically detectable marks are in a pre-determined combination of a first state and a second state; and at least one first control logic comprising at least one sector; wherein each optically detectable mark is associated with a particular first control logic; wherein each first control logic is executed only when its associated optically detectable mark is in a pre-determined state; and wherein a customized player-readable code is determined using a combination of the plurality of optically detectable marks and their associated first control logic. A method of making the optical article, a method of customizing the optical article, a method and a system for the playback of the optical article are also included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: NBCUniversal Media, LLC
    Inventors: James Mitchell White, Marc Brian Wisnudel, Mark Rogers Johnson
  • Patent number: 8048186
    Abstract: A system, in certain embodiments, includes a filter holding frame configured to support a plurality of filters for a turbine engine. The filter holding frame has a first filter cell and a first retainer. The first retainer has a first retaining pad coupled to a first shaft, wherein the first retaining pad and the first shaft are movable to secure and release a first filter in the first filter cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Richard Michael Ashley Mann, Christina Goodrick Meech
  • Patent number: 8048679
    Abstract: The present invention provides several methods of determining values of physical or chemical properties of polymers. In these methods, at least two polymer training samples are provided. Characteristics of the polymer microstructures of the training samples are correlated with values of physical or chemical properties of the training samples. These correlations are subsequently applied to the respective characteristics of polymer test samples in order to determine the values of physical or chemical properties of the test samples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company, LP
    Inventors: Paul J. DesLauriers, David C. Rohlfing
  • Patent number: 8046358
    Abstract: In accordance with aspects of the present technique, a method of retrieving information of interest is presented. The method includes parsing data based upon a predefined context definition. Further, the method includes interpreting the parsed data based on the predefined context definition. In addition, the method includes adding contextual attributes to the interpreted data to generate meta-data. Systems and computer-readable medium that afford functionality of the type defined by this method is also contemplated in conjunction with the present technique.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: GE Healthcare
    Inventor: Jiny Antony Thattil
  • Patent number: 8046191
    Abstract: A method is provided for the monitoring of heat transfer devices. The method includes the acts of receiving data from a heat transfer device, and computing a performance indicator indicative of an incipient anomaly condition of the heat transfer device based upon the received data, and/or computing a normalized efficiency of the heat transfer device. The normalized efficiency represents a corrected efficiency that isolates effects of a process parameter on performance of the heat transfer device. The data represents a measurable process parameter or a change in a measurable process parameter in the heat transfer device. The method receives the data and computes a performance indicator to predict performance degradation of the heat transfer device over time based upon the received data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Vinay Bhaskar Jammu, Nishith Pramod Vora, Ravi Yoganatha Babu, Rama Venkata Mahajanam
  • Patent number: 8045776
    Abstract: A method is provided for processing an image. The method comprises identifying one or more contours or surfaces in a two-dimensional or three-dimensional image generated from a set of projection data. The set of projection data is differentially processed based on the identification of those data points that largely define one or more contours or surfaces. An enhanced image set is reconstructed from the set of processed projection data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Forrest Frank Hopkins, Peter Michael Edic
  • Patent number: 8046173
    Abstract: The present technique provides for the analysis of a data series to identify sequences of interest within the series. The analysis may be used to iteratively update a grammar used to analyze the data series or updated versions of the data series. Furthermore, the technique provides for the calculation of a minimum description length heuristic, such as a symbol compression ratio, for each sub-sequence of the analyzed data sequence. The technique may then compare a selected heuristic value against one or more reference conditions to determine if additional iteration is to be performed. The grammar and the data sequence may be updated between iterations to include a symbol representing a string corresponding to the selected heuristic value based upon a non-termination result of the comparison. Alternatively, the string corresponding to the selected heuristic value may be identified as a sequence of interest based upon a termination result of the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Scott Charles Evans, Stephen Francis Bush, Andrew Soliz Torres
  • Patent number: 8046179
    Abstract: A power electronics device with an improved IGBT protection mechanism is provided. More specifically, systems and methods are provided for shortening the duration of a shutdown test pulse, such that the power output to the load is substantially unaffected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan J Campbell, Steven Terry Seidlitz, Rangarajan M Tallam, Alex Yegorov
  • Patent number: 8037589
    Abstract: A technique is provided for installing a device in which a part of the device and the location of the part are automatically determined. An installer is notified of the part and its location for installation. Routines implementing some or all of the technique may be provided on a computer-readable medium. A method is also provided for locating a part to be installed using a project manager application. An installer retrieves the part from the location and installs the part. In one embodiment, the present techniques are implemented using an installation system including a processor-based system and a locator system. The processor-based system is configured to indicate a location of a part to be installed while the locator system is configured to provide the location to the processor-based system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Crispian Lee Sievenpiper, Sandra Fieldstad Wiley