Patents Assigned to Smith-Root, Inc.
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Patent number: 11471837Abstract: An inline filter housing with a biodegradable, hydrophilic material that operates in conjunction with a field sampling apparatus to both concentrate field sampled environmental DNA particles from water samples and to automatically preserve the captured DNA via desiccation, thus avoiding filter membrane transfer steps, chemicals or cold storage preservation requirements. The hydrophilic filter housing is capable of rapidly preserving the field sampled environmental DNA captured on the filter membrane at ambient field temperatures.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2020Date of Patent: October 18, 2022Assignee: Smith-Root, Inc.Inventors: Austen Clouse Thomas, Jesse Andrew Howard
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Patent number: 11307118Abstract: A dynamic device for sampling of a body of water, featuring the use of sterile collection equipment and precise parametric controls based on feedback data, so that when the device is activated the product of the sampling and filtration process therein accurately indicates the characteristics of the body of water from which the sample was taken. Various sensors help in providing data for bringing about precise parametric control of the dynamic device.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2017Date of Patent: April 19, 2022Assignee: Smith-Root, Inc.Inventors: Austen Thomas, Jesse Howard, Lorin Mueller, Mike Tavakoli
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Publication number: 20200246755Abstract: An inline filter housing with a biodegradable, hydrophilic material that operates in conjunction with a field sampling apparatus to both concentrate field sampled environmental DNA particles from water samples and to automatically preserve the captured DNA via desiccation, thus avoiding filter membrane transfer steps, chemicals or cold storage preservation requirements. The hydrophilic filter housing is capable of rapidly preserving the field sampled environmental DNA captured on the filter membrane at ambient field temperatures.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 3, 2020Publication date: August 6, 2020Applicant: Smith-Root, Inc.Inventors: AUSTEN CLOUSE THOMAS, JESSE ANDREW HOWARD
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Patent number: 9820474Abstract: The inventive subject matter describes an electrical barrier for the deterrence of fish having an electrical barrier with a computer system capable of executing a modified soft-start algorithm, the computer system further having a detector input and a switch output; a bio-electric fish proximity detector, the bio-electric fish proximity detector having a anode-cathode detecting pair input and a signal output, wherein said signal output is connected to the detector input; a time varying voltage source.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2015Date of Patent: November 21, 2017Assignee: SMITH-ROOT, INC.Inventors: Carl Burger, Jeffery Smith
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Patent number: 9677236Abstract: A mobile electric field monitor with a floatable housing, an electric field probe, and a computer processor to measure the electric field generated by an electrofisher while the electrofisher is being used in a body of water, this mobile electric field monitor is coupled to computing system to generate a three dimensional map of electric field.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2011Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: Smith-Root, Inc.Inventor: Joseph Curtis Edmondson
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Patent number: 9596836Abstract: An aquatic electrical barrier that has the electrodes configured in a matrix array configuration, where each electrode element of the matrix array is mounted either directly on the bottom of a water channel or on extendable rods; the matrix array is controlled so that aquatic species may be physically moved by the aquatic species physiological response to a time-varying and spatially-varying electrical field.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2013Date of Patent: March 21, 2017Assignee: SMITH ROOT, INC.Inventors: Lee Roy Carstensen, John Parkin
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Patent number: 9532576Abstract: A system and method to induce fish anesthetizing or narcosis is described that induces a potential field across the body of a laboratory fish having a pair of electrodes, the waveform generated by this potential field is approximately balanced to reduce the introduction of anions into the solution, and a camera is mounted to observe the activity of the fish, so that the potential difference may be adjusted based on the state of the fish.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2015Date of Patent: January 3, 2017Assignee: SMITH-ROOT, INC.Inventors: Michael F Holliman, Lee Roy Carstensen
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Patent number: 9468198Abstract: The apparatus and methods are described for an electrical fish barrier system that has more than one geographically separate pulsator that are connected to a common electrical grid and are synchronized to prevent the overlapping of electrical pulses to prevent line notching or local line electrical line noise that may interfere with railroad transmission lines.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2014Date of Patent: October 18, 2016Assignee: Smith Root, IncInventor: Douglas Malone
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Patent number: 9210942Abstract: A system and method to induce fish anesthetizing or narcosis is described that induces a potential field across the body of a laboratory fish having a pair of electrodes, the waveform generated by this potential field is approximately balanced to reduce the introduction of anions into the solution, and a camera is mounted to observe the activity of the fish, so that the potential difference may be adjusted based on the state of the fish.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2008Date of Patent: December 15, 2015Assignee: Smith-Root, Inc.Inventors: F. Michael Holliman, Lee Roy Carstensen
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Patent number: 9198405Abstract: A boat holding tank for anesthetizing fish is described having a pulsator, with the pulsator having an anode output and a cathode output; a holding tank capable of receiving an aquatic animal, the holding tank further comprising an anode probe and a cathode probe, with the anode cathode probe of the holding tank switchably connected to the anode and cathode output of the pulsator, such that when the pulsator is activated the aquatic animal in the holding tank is anesthetized.Type: GrantFiled: January 1, 2012Date of Patent: December 1, 2015Assignee: Smith-Root, Inc.Inventor: Kerry Douglas Smith
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Patent number: 8925488Abstract: A system and method is described for a controlled electrified fish barrier that induces a potential field in a body of water with an electric field generator, a control system, and an object detection system, so that when the anode and cathode of the electric field generator are inserted in a body of water, and the object detection system detects an object, the object detection system electrically signals the control system; and in response the control system electrically adjusts the electric field generator.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2010Date of Patent: January 6, 2015Assignee: Smith-Root, Inc.Inventor: Jeffery Smith
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Publication number: 20140254060Abstract: The apparatus and methods are described for an electrical fish barrier system that has more than one geographically separate pulsator that are connected to a common electrical grid and are synchronized to prevent the overlapping of electrical pulses to prevent line notching or local line electrical line noise that may interfere with railroad transmission lines.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 4, 2014Publication date: September 11, 2014Applicant: SMITH-ROOT, INC.Inventor: Douglas Malone
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Patent number: 8739736Abstract: A portable fish anesthetizing system is also described having a tank cover, an electrode pair with the electrode pair configurable attached to the tank cover; a control system for creating a potential difference, the control system electrically connected to the electrode pair, so that when the tank cover is placed on a laboratory tank and the control system is activated, current flows from the control system through the electrodes.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2009Date of Patent: June 3, 2014Assignee: Smith-Root, Inc.Inventor: Farland Michael Holliman
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Patent number: 6978734Abstract: An electric fish barrier for deterring fish from entering a water intake in a reservoir or along a waterway has a set of conductive members at a first voltage potential and a second set of conductive members at a second voltage potential. The conductive members are disposed on support piles extending up from the bottom of the reservoir. Each conductive member extends vertically between a pre-determined range of depths from an upper depth to a lower depth, forming a contiguous voltage gradient between the two sets of conductive members. Fish are drawn to the attraction flow of water flowing into the intake. The two sets of conductive members are oriented such that the attraction flow passes through the contiguous voltage gradient, thereby deterring the fish from following the attraction flow into the water intake.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2003Date of Patent: December 27, 2005Assignee: Smith-Root, Inc.Inventors: David V. Smith, Lee Roy Carstensen
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Patent number: 5445111Abstract: A variety of electrified fish barriers are suitable for diverting fish from protected structures, e.g. pump intakes. Most take the form of linear curtain arrays (i.e. arrays of fixedly spaced-apart vertical elements). Many are characterized by the use of three or more pulsed driving signals of different voltages. This results in an electrical field pattern that extends broadside of the array, permitting fish an opportunity to turn and swim away before reaching a dangerous field strength. One barrier advantageously integrates the electrodes with a physical control structure that can be used to equalize the through-barrier water flow along its length. Others employ sets of electrodes that are driven in staggered, time-multiplexed fashion so as to reduce peak power requirements. Barriers used to screen pump intakes on the sides of flowing waterways are desirably sized and placed so that the velocity of water flow through the barrier is one-half, or less, of the waterway bypass flow adjacent the barrier.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 1993Date of Patent: August 29, 1995Assignee: Smith-Root, Inc.Inventor: David V. Smith
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Patent number: 5327854Abstract: An electrofishing method and apparatus employs programmable hardware to generate output waveforms that will stun or alter the behavior of fish while minimizing the harm done to the fish. By programming a variety of instructions into the programmable hardware, a wide range of different output waveforms can be produced. The programmable hardware can also monitor environmental conditions to automatically adjust and optimize the waveform parameters. Finally, the programmable hardware can be interconnected by a data network to form an array of charged electrodes, with each output related and synchronized in a predetermined way for use in electric fish barriers and guidance systems.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 1992Date of Patent: July 12, 1994Assignee: Smith-Root, Inc.Inventors: David V. Smith, Lee R. Carstensen, Mark D. Salzman
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Patent number: D622806Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2010Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Assignee: Smith-Root, Inc.Inventors: Bryan Hamilton, John McAllister
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Patent number: D745226Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2014Date of Patent: December 8, 2015Assignee: Smith Root, IncInventor: David Kumarich
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Patent number: D776366Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2015Date of Patent: January 10, 2017Assignee: SMITH-ROOT, INCInventor: Lee Roy Carstensen