Patents Assigned to General Atomics
  • Methods for assaying percentage of glycated hemoglobin
    Patent number: 7855079
    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: July 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: General Atomics
    Inventors: Chong-Sheng Yuan, Abhijit Datta, Limin Liu
  • Microwave-powered pellet accelerator
    Patent number: 7831008
    Abstract: A system for fueling a plasma includes a gyrotron for radiating microwave energy into a waveguide. Also included is a module having a deuterium-tritium (DT) fuel pellet, a diamond, quartz or sapphire window, and a pusher medium located between the pellet and window that is made of frozen deuterium (D2) and metallic particles. With the module in the waveguide, the gyrotron is activated. Radiation from the gyrotron is then directed into the waveguide and through the window to cause the inducement of current in the metal particles, causing the particles to become hot. The absorbed microwave energy is then transferred to the pusher medium by conduction resulting in a gaseous expansion of the pusher medium. This ejects the pellet from the waveguide and into the plasma.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: General Atomics
    Inventors: Paul B. Parks, Francis W. Perkins
  • Active armor system
    Patent number: 7819050
    Abstract: An improvement in an electric armor system designed to prevent, among other things, a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) from penetrating the hull of a fighting vehicle. The system includes a self-clearing electrode that will make the system less vulnerable to non-plasma objects that might otherwise short out the active armor electrodes. It optionally further allows for the early initiation of current flow at the point of penetration making it even easier to defeat incoming threats by allowing more time to break-up an incoming plasma jet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: General Atomics
    Inventor: Frederick W. MacDougall
  • System of and method for transparent management of data objects in containers across distributed heterogenous resources
    Patent number: 7801850
    Abstract: A system of and method for maintaining data objects in containers across a network of distributed heterogeneous resources in a manner which is transparent to a client. A client request pertaining to containers is resolved by querying meta data for the container, processing the request through one or more copies of the container maintained on the system, updating the meta data for the container to reflect any changes made to the container as a result processing the request, and, if a copy of the container has changed, changing the status of the copy to indicate dirty status or synchronizing the copy to one or more other copies that may be present on the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: General Atomics
    Inventors: Reagan W. Moore, Arcot Rajasekar, Michael Y. Wan
  • Color condensation for image transformation and/or compression
    Patent number: 7796836
    Abstract: The present embodiments provide methods and systems for use in transforming content, such as multimedia content. Some embodiments provide method for use in image compression. These methods receive digital image data comprising a plurality of pixel data, separate the plurality of pixel data of the digital image data according to color components, condense the pixel data of the same color component defining a plurality of condensed pixel data each corresponding with a color component, cooperate the condensed pixel data defining representative image data, and transform the representative image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: General Atomics
    Inventor: Jeffrey Dykes McGee
  • High photoefficiency microalgae bioreactors
    Patent number: 7763457
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for growing algae with improved photoefficiency. The system includes a bioreactor formed with a conduit for growing algae cells in a medium. Further, the system is provided with a paddle wheel for moving the medium through the conduit at a predetermined fluid flow velocity. In order to ensure that algae cells are efficiently converting light energy to chemical energy, a plurality of barriers is positioned in the fluid stream. Specifically, the barriers are separated by predetermined distances to create von Karman vortices in the medium. As a result, algae cells are sequentially flowed to the surface of the fluid stream to receive light energy for predetermined intervals of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: General Atomics
    Inventors: Eric H. Dunlop, David A. Hazlebeck
  • Composite structures with integral intelligent skin
    Patent number: 7746279
    Abstract: Composite structures having an integral intelligent skin are made of one or more plies of a structural base material and an intelligent or smart film by molding one or more plies and the film into an integral unitary body with the intelligent film outermost. The intelligent or smart film contains or bears a functionally active or interactive component such as antennae, electronic sensors, electric and/or electronic circuitry, and/or spectrally tailored coatings. A method of making the composite structure in a very economical manner is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: General Atomics
    Inventors: Thomas R. McGovern, Ronald N. Hubbard
  • Material treatment systems for waste destruction, energy generation, or the production of useful chemicals
    Patent number: 7736471
    Abstract: A system for treating a feedstock for the purposes of waste destruction, energy generation, or the production of useful chemicals is disclosed and includes a reactor vessel. A heating lance is configured to outflow the products of a partial oxidation reaction into a reaction chamber in the vessel. The hot reaction products heat and pyrolyze the feedstock in the chamber generating a process effluent which typically includes gases (e.g. syn-gas) and carbon solids. Glasses and metals in the feedstock accumulate in the chamber in a molten state. The molten materials store thermal energy and provide thermal stability to the treatment system. A recycle loop uses carbon solids from the process effluent as an input to the lance for reaction with an oxidant therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: General Atomics
    Inventor: David A. Hazlebeck
  • Apparatus and methods for use in flash detection
    Patent number: 7732769
    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: November 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: General Atomics
    Inventors: Robin Terry Snider, Jeffrey Dykes McGee, Michael Dale Perry
  • TEST APPARATUS, SYSTEM, AND METHOD HAVING A MAGNETIC FEATURE
    Publication number: 20100117679
    Abstract: A test apparatus involving a rotor coupled to a drive shaft, wherein the drive shaft is mechanically coupled to a drive system; a stator coupled to a brush holder; a brush held by the brush holder, wherein the brush is held in contact with the rotor; a housing for supporting the rotor and the stator; and a superconducting magnet for providing a magnetic field in the vicinity of the brush, in accordance with one embodiment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Applicant: General Atomics
    Inventors: Zbigniew S. Piec, David E. Corbett, Alan R. Langhorn
  • Photosynthetic oil production in a two-stage reactor
    Patent number: 7687261
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for producing algae with high oil content. The system includes a chemostat formed with a conduit for growing algae, an input port for feeding a medium into the conduit, and an output port for passing an effluence from the conduit. Further, the chemostat includes a paddlewheel or other device that moves the medium around the conduit. Also, the system includes a plug flow reactor for receiving the effluence from the chemostat. In order to trigger high oil production in the algae, a modified nutrient mix is added to the effluence in the plug flow reactor. Specifically, the modified nutrient mix comprises a limited amount of a selected constituent to trigger oil production in the algae. Further, the system includes an algae separator for removing high oil content algae from the plug flow reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: General Atomics
    Inventors: David A. Hazlebeck, Eric H. Dunlop
  • METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR NETWORK SETUP AND MAINTENANCE AND MEDIUM ACCESS CONTROL FOR A WIRELESS SENSOR NETWORK
    Publication number: 20100039933
    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: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2008
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Applicant: General Atomics
    Inventors: James Laurence Taylor, Venkatagopal Racherla, Jaya L. Jeyaseelan, Naiel K. Askar, Michael D. Perry, David S. Furuno
  • Photosynthetic oil production with high carbon dioxide utilization
    Patent number: 7662616
    Abstract: A system for processing oil from algae is disclosed. Specifically, the system recycles byproducts of the process for use as nutrients during algae growth and oil production. The system includes a conduit for growing algae and an algae separator that removes the algae from the conduit. Also, the system includes a device for lysing the algae and an oil separator to remove the oil from the lysed matter. Further, the system includes a biofuel reactor that receives oil from the oil separator and synthesizes biofuel and glycerin. Moreover, the algae separator, oil separator and biofuel reactor all recycle byproducts back to the conduit to support further algae growth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: General Atomics
    Inventors: David A. Hazlebeck, Eric H. Dunlop
  • Data transfer using frequency notching of radio-frequency signals
    Patent number: 7656963
    Abstract: A method for data transmission includes forming a notched radio-frequency (RF) burst according to one or more data values, where a bandwidth of the notched RF burst is at least two percent of the center frequency of the notched RF burst. Forming a notched RF pulse includes altering, according to the data, at least one of the amplitude and phase of one or more selected components, where each of the selected components has a bandwidth within the bandwidth of the notched RF burst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: General Atomics
    Inventors: David A. Humphreys, Gerald D. Rogerson
  • Test apparatus, system, and method with a magnetic feature
    Patent number: 7642806
    Abstract: A magnetic test apparatus, in accordance with one embodiment, comprising a rotor coupled to a drive shaft, wherein the drive shaft is mechanically coupled to a drive system; a stator coupled to at least one brush holder; at least one brush held by the brush holder, wherein the brush is held in contact with the rotor; a housing for supporting the rotor and the stator; and a magnet for providing a magnetic field in the vicinity of the at least one brush.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: General Atomics
    Inventors: Zbigniew S. Piec, David E. Corbett, Alan R. Langhorn
  • Wireless Communications Between Wired Devices with Adaptive Data Rates
    Publication number: 20090286489
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for communicating between a host and a peripheral. In one embodiment, a method comprises the steps: establishing, in a manner transparent to the host, a wireless data link between a wireless hub device and a wireless peripheral device coupled to the peripheral, the wireless hub device coupled to and configured to communicate with the host, wherein the host is configured to communicate with peripheral devices over a wireline link at a plurality of data rates when connected via the wireline link; and controlling a flow of data between the host and the wireless hub device so that the host is unaware of the wireless data link, wherein the data is to be communicated between the host and the peripheral.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2008
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Applicant: General Atomics
    Inventors: Venkatagopal Racherla, Stephan Walter Gehring, Daniel Paul Peters, Arul Kumar Subbiah
  • Water oxidization system
    Patent number: 7611625
    Abstract: A system and method for oxidizing a feed material includes a reactor vessel that forms an enclosed chamber. The vessel includes a port for introducing the feed material into the chamber where it can be oxidized to create salts and particulates, together with a fluid effluent. After their creation, the salts and particulates flow into a brine pool maintained within the chamber. Thereafter, brine, including salts and particulates, can be removed from the chamber through a vessel outlet. Further, the vessel includes a fluid effluent discharge pipe extending from outside the vessel, through the brine pool, into the chamber. As a result of this structure, the fluid effluent can be separated from the salts and particulates and discharged from the chamber through the pipe, passing through the brine pool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: General Atomics
    Inventors: David A. Hazlebeck, John L. Perlman
  • Method and apparatus for data transfer using a time division multiple frequency scheme with additional modulation
    Patent number: 7609608
    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 an additional modulation, e.g., amplitude, width or polarization modulation, of at least one of the plurality of bursts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: General Atomics
    Inventors: Gerald D. Rogerson, David S. Furuno, Stephan W. Gehring, Michael L. Walker, Jason L. Ellis
  • OPTICAL SYSTEM FOR REDUCING STIMULATED BRILLOUIN SCATTERING BY CONTROLLABLY CHANGING POLARIZATION DIRECTION OF AN OPTICAL SIGNAL
    Publication number: 20090231681
    Abstract: An optical system having an input surface configured to receive an input optical signal having a polarization, and a polarization changer comprising the input surface and configured to generate two orthogonal polarization components from the input optical signal. The polarization changer also changes a direction of the polarization of the input optical signal in a controlled manner while maintaining coherence of the two orthogonal polarization components in order to reduce stimulated Brillion scattering.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Applicant: GENERAL ATOMICS
    Inventor: Detao Du
  • COMPOSITE STRUCTURES WITH INTEGRAL INTELLIGENT SKIN
    Publication number: 20090189307
    Abstract: Composite structures having an integral intelligent skin are made of one or more plies of a structural base material and an intelligent or smart film by molding one or more plies and the film into an integral unitary body with the intelligent film outermost. The intelligent or smart film contains or bears a functionally active or interactive component such as antennae, electronic sensors, electric and/or electronic circuitry, and/or spectrally tailored coatings. A method of making the composite structure in a very economical manner is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2009
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Applicant: GENERAL ATOMICS
    Inventors: Thomas R. McGovern, Ronald N. Hubbard