Patents Assigned to General Atomics
  • System and method for vehicle position sensing with use of propulsion windings
    Patent number: 8499697
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for determining the position of a vehicle on a guideway. For operation, the vehicle includes a magnet system having a wavelength “?”. Further, the guideway includes a propulsion winding for carrying a propulsion current. Structurally, the propulsion winding includes a series of sections, with each section having a wavelength “?”. Further, the propulsion winding includes “N” coils linearly aligned along the guideway, with a phase difference of “?/N” between adjacent coils. Importantly, a transmitter is located on the vehicle for emitting a position current that interacts with the propulsion winding to produce a signal in each coil. Also, the system includes a trap connected to each coil for receiving each respective signal, and a processor for resolving the respective signals to determine the position of the vehicle on the guideway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: General Atomics
    Inventors: Bogdan S. Borowy, Husam Gurol
  • Methods and compositions for assaying homocysteine
    Patent number: 8476034
    Abstract: This invention relates generally to the field of homocysteine detection. In particular, the invention provides a method for determining homocysteine presence or concentration in samples, which method comprises: contacting a sample containing or suspected of containing Hcy with a Hcy co-substrate and a Hcy converting enzyme in a Hcy conversion reaction to form a Hcy conversion product and a Hcy co-substrate conversion product; and assessing the Hcy co-substrate conversion product to determine the presence, absence and/or amount of the Hcy in the sample. The Hcy co-substrate conversion product may be assessed directly, or it may be assessed by further conversion of the Hcy co-substrate conversion product into another material by the action of one or more additional enzymes. A kit for assaying homocysteine based on the same principle is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: General Atomics
    Inventors: Chong-Sheng Yuan, Abhijit Datta, Chao Dou
  • METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR USE IN LASER MACHINING
    Publication number: 20130146570
    Abstract: The present embodiments providing methods, systems and apparatuses of protecting a surface during laser machining. In some embodiments, a method of protecting a surface during laser machining comprises: directing a fluid into a cavity of an object being laser machined, where the fluid does not have laser absorption properties; and directing a plurality of laser pulses at a wall of the object being laser machined, where the laser pulses are configured to form a hole through the wall such that at least one laser pulse passes through the hole and enters the cavity while the fluid is directed into the cavity such that the laser pulse is incident on the fluid and a surface together in order to inhibit backwall damage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ATOMICS
    Inventor: General Atomics
  • METHODS FOR ASSAYING PERCENTAGE OF GLYCATED HEMOGLOBIN
    Publication number: 20130078664
    Abstract: The invention provides enzymatic methods for direct determination of percentage of glycated hemoglobin in blood samples without the need of a separated measurement of total hemoglobin content in blood samples. The methods utilizes one or two different types of oxidizing agents which selectively oxidize low-molecular weight reducing substances and high-molecular weight (mainly hemoglobin) reducing substances in blood samples, coupled with enzymatic reactions catalyzed by proteases, fructosyl amino acid oxidase. The amount of hydrogen peroxide generated in the reaction is measured for determination of percentage of glycated hemoglobin in blood samples. The invention provides kits for performing the methods of the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ATOMICS
    Inventor: General Atomics
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INHIBITING FORMATION OF AND/OR REMOVING ICE FROM AIRCRAFT COMPONENTS
    Publication number: 20130032671
    Abstract: Methods and systems are generally described that inhibit debris (such as ice) accretions and/or remove debris (such as ice) accretions from the exterior surface of an aircraft. In some embodiments, the invention is a system for an aircraft comprising: a component of the aircraft having a surface; a plurality of piezo-kinetic actuators each positioned proximate to a portion of the surface; and a control unit coupled to the plurality of actuators, the control unit configured to actuate one or more of the actuators at one or more frequencies between about 1 Hz and about 1 kHz; wherein the actuators are each configured to introduce a displacement of the surface in three dimensions to inhibit a formation of ice on at least the portion of the surface and to break up existing ice formations on at least the portion of the surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ATOMICS
    Inventors: Alan M. Giles, James T. Machin, John A. Geriguis
  • Methods for assaying percentage of glycated hemoglobin
    Patent number: 8338184
    Abstract: The invention provides enzymatic methods for direct determination of percentage of glycated hemoglobin in blood samples without the need of a separated measurement of total hemoglobin content in blood samples. The methods utilizes one or two different types of oxidizing agents which selectively oxidize low-molecular weight reducing substances and high-molecular weight (mainly hemoglobin) reducing substances in blood samples, coupled with enzymatic reactions catalyzed by proteases, fructosyl amino acid oxidase. The amount of hydrogen peroxide generated in the reaction is measured for determination of percentage of glycated hemoglobin in blood samples. The invention provides kits for performing the methods of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: General Atomics
    Inventors: Chong-Sheng Yuan, Abhijit Datta, Limin Liu
  • OIL ABSORBANT POLYOLEFIN FOAM
    Publication number: 20120305490
    Abstract: Described herein are polyolefin open cell foam materials that absorb organic liquids or waxes, such as hydrocarbon oil, selectively against water. The polyolefin open cell foam materials are environmentally friendly, have a relatively low bulk density, and can be used in the clean up of oil spills.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: General Atomics
    Inventor: Diana Schroen
  • Methods for assaying percentage of glycated hemoglobin
    Patent number: 8318501
    Abstract: The invention provides enzymatic methods for direct determination of percentage of glycated hemoglobin in blood samples without the need of a separated measurement of total hemoglobin content in blood samples. The methods utilizes one or two different types of oxidizing agents which selectively oxidize low-molecular weight reducing substances and high-molecular weight (mainly hemoglobin) reducing substances in blood samples, coupled with enzymatic reactions catalyzed by proteases, fructosyl amino acid oxidase, and peroxidase. The invention provides kits for performing the methods of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: General Atomics
    Inventors: Chong-Sheng Yuan, Abhijit Datta, Limin Liu
  • METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR SUPPRESSING TRITIUM PERMEATION DURING TRITIUM PRODUCTION
    Publication number: 20120294403
    Abstract: A tritium production element for use in a conventional power reactor, and methods of use and making, are provided, wherein the element experiences reduced tritium permeation during irradiation by incorporating a silicon carbide barrier that encapsulates one or more burnable absorber pellets. The tritium production element includes a tubular cladding that encloses a plurality of burnable absorber pellets, such that individual pellets or groups of pellets are disposed within a silicon carbide barrier layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: General Atomics
    Inventor: Timothy Creston BERTCH
  • Apparatus and methods for use in flash detection
    Patent number: 8304729
    Abstract: The present embodiments provide methods, systems and apparatuses that detect, classify and locate flash events. In some implementations, some of the methods detect a flash event, trigger an imaging system in response to detecting the flash event to capture an image of an area that includes the flash event, and determines a location of the flash event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: General Atomics
    Inventors: Robin Terry Snider, Jeffrey Dykes McGee, Michael Dale Perry
  • Photosynthetic carbon dioxide sequestration and pollution abatement
    Patent number: 8262776
    Abstract: A system and method for producing biofuel from pollutant-fed algae are disclosed. Specifically, the system includes a scrubber with a chamber for receiving a pollutant-contaminated fluid stream. Further, a scrubber solution is received in the chamber for scrubbing the pollutant-contaminated fluid stream. Also, the system includes a bioreactor that is provided with an input port to receive the scrubber solution with pollutants for use as nutrients to support algae cell growth. Further, the system includes an algae separator that removes the algae from the bioreactor and a device for processing the algae into biofuel. In order to recycle the scrubber solution, the algae separator is in fluid communication with the scrubber. With this arrangement, the effluence from the bioreactor may be recycled for use as the scrubber solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: General Atomics
    Inventors: David A. Hazlebeck, Eric H. Dunlop
  • Method for Nutrient Pre-Loading of Microbial Cells
    Publication number: 20120220018
    Abstract: A method is provided for supporting the growth of selected microbial cells and for obstructing the growth of contaminants in a non-sterile system. In the method, the microbial cells are pre-loaded with a surplus amount of a chosen nutrient, such as phosphorus, other macronutrients, or micronutrients. Further, the chosen nutrient is greatly reduced, or eliminated, from the non-sterile system. Thereafter, the pre-loaded selected microbial cells are introduced into the non-sterile system. In the non-sterile system, the selected microbial cells rely on the surplus amount of the chosen nutrient to survive and grow. At the same time, contaminants such as non-selected microbial strains and bacteria starve from a lack of the chosen nutrient in the non-sterile system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: General Atomics
    Inventor: David A. Hazlebeck
  • Methods of manufacturing quantum well materials
    Patent number: 8242348
    Abstract: Processes for economical large scale commercial production of blocks of quantum well particles, platelets, or continuous sheets of material imparting minimal or essentially no parasitic substrate loss in quantum well devices such as thermo-electric generators in which the blocks are embodied involve roll to roll processing, i.e., deposition and crystallization of alternating layers of quantum well materials, on an elongate and continuous base layer of appreciable width. Blocks of quantum well materials having no attached base layer are produced on decomposable or release treated base layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: General Atomics
    Inventor: Lawrence D. Woolf
  • Linear synchronous motor with phase control
    Patent number: 8224509
    Abstract: A system for controlling movements of a vehicle along a guideway includes an array of targets that are mounted on the vehicle, and a series of wayside sensors that are mounted on the guideway. A signal processor monitors the passage of targets past appropriate sensors and uses resultant signals to derive parametric values that are characteristic of the vehicle's movements. The parametric values are then coordinated with a controller for the operation of a linear synchronous motor that propels the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: General Atomics
    Inventors: Philip Lynn Jeter, Karoly Kehrer, Husam Gurol
  • Embedded module for linear synchronous motor
    Patent number: 8221024
    Abstract: A method of constructing a roadway having an embedded linear synchronous motor (LSM) utilizes prefabricated modules. Structurally, each module comprises a top plate, a multiple-phase winding tied to the top plate, and a concrete mold encapsulating the winding. With the modules prefabricated, the roadway is constructed by first excavating a trench to position a foundation at the trench bottom. Then a mud matt is positioned on the foundation. Next, the modules are laid end-to-end on the mud matt. Thereafter, the windings in adjacent modules are electrically interconnected through joints. Further, the joints are covered by junction boxes, and the trench around the roadway is filled in with aggregate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: General Atomics
    Inventors: Philip L. Jeter, Husam Gurol, In-Kun Kim
  • Method and system for network setup and maintenance and medium access control for a wireless sensor network
    Patent number: 8199635
    Abstract: A sensor network having a first command center and a first access node, comprising a wireless transceiver, coupled to the command center. The sensor network may also include a plurality of nodes individually comprising a wireless transceiver and a directional antenna, wherein each of the plurality of nodes is successively located in a downlink direction relative to the first access node, and is configured to wirelessly communicate via the directional antenna with at least one node of a first neighbor group in a first direction and at least one node of a second neighbor group in a second direction. In addition, a sensor device is individually coupled to at least one of the nodes, and is configured to provide sensor data for the first command center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: General Atomics
    Inventors: James Laurence Taylor, Venkatagopal Racherla, Jaya L. Jeyaseelan, Naiel K. Askar, Michael D. Perry, David S. Furuno
  • Determination of ions using ion-sensitive enzymes
    Patent number: 8187831
    Abstract: The invention relates generally to the field of sodium and lithium ion detection. In particular, the invention provides chimeric proteins, nucleic acids encoding chimeric proteins, methods and kits for assaying for sodium ions and for lithium ions in a sample, using inter alia, a 3?(2?),5?-bisphosphate nucleotidase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: General Atomics
    Inventor: Chong-Sheng Yuan
  • Reversible inhibitors of S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine hydrolase and uses thereof
    Patent number: 8168643
    Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for reversibly inhibiting S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine (SAH) hydrolase. The compounds of the present invention can be used in combination with an anti-hemorrhagic viral infection agent, an immunosuppressant, a homocysteine lowering agent, or an anti-neoplasm agent. The compositions and methods of the present invention can be used for the prevention and treatment of hemorrhagic virus infection, autoimmune diseases, autograft rejection, neoplasm, hyperhomocysteineuria, cardiovascular disease, stroke, Alzheimer's disease, or diabetes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: General Atomics
    Inventor: Chong-Sheng Yuan
  • Method and apparatus for data transfer using a time division multiple frequency scheme supplemented with polarity modulation
    Patent number: 8149879
    Abstract: A method of data transmission according to one embodiment of the invention includes encoding a set of data values to produce a corresponding series of ordered n-tuples. The method also includes transmitting, according to the series of ordered n-tuples, a plurality of bursts over a plurality n of frequency bands. Specifically, for each of the plurality of bursts, a frequency band occupied by the burst is indicated by the order within its n-tuple of an element corresponding to the burst. A bandwidth of at least one of the plurality of bursts is at least two percent of the center frequency of the burst. Information is encoded into a polarity of at least one of the plurality of bursts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: General Atomics
    Inventors: Gerald D. Rogerson, David S. Furuno, Stephan W. Gehring, Michael L. Walker, Roberto Aiello
  • Linear motor charged electric vehicle
    Patent number: 8113310
    Abstract: An all-electric, wheeled vehicle has a magnet array that can be selectively moved between a retracted position and a deployed position, to respectively operate in a motor mode or a generator mode. When in the motor mode, with its magnet array retracted, wheel rotation to move the vehicle is powered by an onboard battery. Alternately, in the generator mode with the magnet array deployed, the vehicle is powered by a Linear Synchronous Motor (LSM). Specifically, the deployed magnet array interacts with a multiple-phase winding (i.e. LSM) embedded into the roadway on which the vehicle travels. Further, rotation of the wheel during vehicle movement in the generator mode recharges the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: General Atomics
    Inventors: Husam Gurol, Philip L. Jeter, Kurt M. Schaubel