Patents Assigned to University of Technology
  • Patent number: 6509146
    Abstract: This invention discloses methods for the long-term preservation of industrial scale biological solutions and suspensions containing biologically active molecules, cells and small multicellular specimens at ambient temperatures by dehydration in amorphous very viscous liquid or glass state. The scale up method comprises the primary drying step of boiling under vacuum to form a mechanically-stable foam and a secondary drying step to increase the stability. Vitrification can subsequently be achieved by cooling the dried material to the storage temperature which is lower than the glass transition temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2003
    Assignee: Universal Preservation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Victor Bronshtein
  • Patent number: 6489308
    Abstract: A novel method of treating and preventing diseases is provided. In particular, compositions and methods of blocking diseases associated with aberrant levels of nitric oxide and facilitated by a serine proteolytic (SP) activity are disclosed, which consist of administering to a subject a therapeutically effective amount of a compound having a serine protease inhibitory activity. Among effective compounds are &agr;1-antitrypsin and synthetic drugs mimicking some or all of the actions of &agr;1-antitrypsin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Trustees of University of Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Leland Shapiro
  • Patent number: 6479024
    Abstract: A process for producing alumina from bauxite is described in which bauxite is treated with an alkali to form a mixture comprising a solution of aluminum-containing ions and alumina trihydrate is precipitated from the solution. The process comprises treatment of the solution before or after the precipitation step with a layered double hydroxide in order to remove impurities from the solution by intercalation into the layers in the double hydroxide. The double hydroxide may contain layers of the formula: [LiAl2(OH)6]+.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: Curtin University of Technology
    Inventors: Dermot Michael O'Hare, Andrew Michael Fogg, Gordon Michael Parkinson
  • Patent number: 6448757
    Abstract: A digital frequency detector (10) and method for digitally detecting arbitrarily small phase changes between a signal waveform and a reference waveform. Both the reference waveform and the signal waveform are sampled at a rate related to the clock frequency fc, and separately fed into two arrays of simple frequency detectors (12, 14). Each simple frequency detector in each array has a different starting phase with respect to the reference waveform and the signal waveform respectively. Phase slips between the reference waveform and the sampling frequency and phase slips between the signal waveform and the sampling frequency are measured by the detector arrays (12, 14). These phase slips, called “slip events”, are combined in circuit (16) which produces an output indicative of phase slips between the reference waveform and the signal waveform. Using this phase slip information, the instantaneous frequency difference between the signal and reference waveforms can be determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Curtin University of Technology
    Inventor: Martin Hill
  • Patent number: 6411627
    Abstract: A method of controlling the flow of traffic in synchronous transfer mode (ATM) network (10), which brings into possible existence a class (class II) of ATM cells. The ATM network (10) comprises one or more ATM switches (14) coupled by links (20) providing communication channels between the ATM switches (14). The method subjects the class II cells received at an input port of a particular ATM switch (14) to control, originating within the switching element of that ATM switch. The method allows only up to a fixed number of class II cells from a particular input port to be in the switch awaiting onward transfer. Although the control is on class, it nonetheless tends to produce fairness in service among different connections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Curtin University of Technology
    Inventors: John Leslie Hullett, Antonio Cantoni, Zigmantas Leonas Budrikis, Vaughan William Wittorff
  • Patent number: 6359871
    Abstract: A communication network for an area such as an underground mine. A plurality of cascaded base stations (13) are serially interconnected in a ring structure (11) to form a network backbone. One of the base stations (13) at one end of the network backbone forms a network controller (15) for controlling the network. A plurality of portables (17) are adapted for communication with any of the base stations via a common air interface. A backbone network protocol (19) is provided for communicating between the network controller (15) and all of the base stations (13) and between the base stations (13) along the network backbone themselves. A common air interface protocol (21) is provided for communicating between a portable (17) and a base station (13). The other base stations (13) function as slaves relative to the network controller (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Curtin University of Technology
    Inventors: Kah-Seng Chung, Richard Beaumont Seale, David Antony Barker
  • Publication number: 20020031260
    Abstract: Concerning feature extraction of documents in text mining, a method and an apparatus for extracting features having the same nature as those by LSA are provided that require smaller memory space and simpler program and apparatus than the apparatus for executing LSA. Features of each document are extracted by feature extracting acts on the basis of a term-document matrix updated by term-document updating acts and of a basis vector, spanning a space of effective features, calculated by basis vector calculations. Execution of respective acts is repeated until a predetermined requirement given by a user is satisfied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2001
    Publication date: March 14, 2002
    Applicant: SSR Co., Ltd. and Kochi University of Technology
    Inventors: Ruck Thawonmas, Akio Sakamoto, Shinji Mizobuchi, Masutatsu Yoshioka
  • Patent number: 6345811
    Abstract: A vapor-liquid contacting tower having a tray deck, at least one downcomer and a structure packing layer in the space under the vapor-liquid bubble contacting tray wherein the tray deck has an opening such that vapor ascends upward through the opening to come into contact with the liquid flowing across the tray deck to form a froth in which the vapor and the liquid on the tray deck creates cross-flow bubble contact and with the structural dimensions of the tray deck and downcomer providing for at least 90 vol % of the total liquid flowing across the tray deck flows downwardly through the downcomer to the adjacent deck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2002
    Assignees: China Petro-Chemical Corporation, Zhejiang University of Technology
    Inventors: Xiaomei Yu, Jun Tian, Jiazhong Zhu, Ou Li, Zuming Zheng, Kejian Yao
  • Publication number: 20020000800
    Abstract: A digital frequency detector (10) and method for digitally detecting arbitrarily small phase changes between a signal waveform and a reference waveform. Both the reference waveform and the signal waveform are sampled at a rate related to the clock frequency fc, and separately fed into two arrays of simple frequency detectors (12, 14). Each simple frequency detector in each array has a different starting phase with respect to the reference waveform and the signal waveform respectively. Phase slips between the reference waveform and the sampling frequency and phase slips between the signal waveform and the sampling frequency are measured by the detector arrays (12, 14). These phase slips, called “slip events”, are combined in circuit (16) which produces an output indicative of phase slips between the reference waveform and the signal waveform. Using this phase slip information, the instantaneous frequency difference between the signal and reference waveforms can be determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 1999
    Publication date: January 3, 2002
    Applicant: Curtin University of Technology
    Inventor: MARTIN HILL
  • Patent number: 6332368
    Abstract: A sampling tool is used to collect a sample from the surface of an insulator in a high voltage installation during live line conditions. The sampling tool comprises a sampling head mounted to one end of a hot stick. Sampling cartridges are interchangeably mountable to a pivoted block on the sampling head. The block is biased by a spring to urge the cartridge into contact with the surface of the insulator when a trigger on the sampling head comes into contact with the insulator. One cartridge includes a planing blade for collecting a sliver of material from the insulator surface. An alternative cartridge has a swab and an abrasive pad interchangeably insertable thereon for collecting a material sample from the insulator surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Queensland University of Technology
    Inventors: Gregory Anthony Cash, Graeme Allan George, Andrej Krivda, Frank George Deabill, Paul Blackmore, David Birtwhistle
  • Patent number: 6306345
    Abstract: This invention relates to barrier methods for preserving sensitive biological materials as a porous foam, subsequently crushing the foam to form a powder, and optionally formulating mixtures of preserved powdered biological materials. The invention also encompasses an apparatus for integrating the methods of foam formation and subsequent crushing of the preserved biological materials using barrier technology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: Universal Preservation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Victor Bronshtein, Kevin R. Bracken, Ronnie K. Livers, David R. Williams
  • Patent number: 6291944
    Abstract: An electronic ballast having a through-lamp ground fault sensor that may also function as an end-of-lamp-life sensor is disclosed. The electronic ballast has an inverter that receives power from a dc power supply, and delivers a high-frequency output voltage to a resonant tank circuit through a dc blocking capacitor. The ground fault sensor includes a filter circuit connected to a voltage sensor circuit. An input terminal of the filter circuit is connected to the resonant tank so as to be in communication with a voltage signal that exists between a ballast output terminal and a dc power supply output terminal. The filter provides a filtered voltage signal by attenuating high frequency ac voltage components of the voltage signal, and passing low frequency ac voltage components, such as a 60 Hz signal, and possibly also passing a dc voltage component. A through-lamp ground fault will generate a voltage signal at the power line frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: Universal Lighting Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryce L. Hesterman, Ali Fawaz
  • Patent number: 6281641
    Abstract: An electronic ballast apparatus for powering one or more gas discharge lamps includes an inverter that is controlled by an inverter control circuit. The inverter control circuit adjusts certain ballast operating characteristics in order to operate the lamps under nearly the same operating conditions irrespective of how many lamps are connected to the ballast. The inverter control circuit includes a lamp quantity sensor, a regulator circuit and an end-of-lamp-life sensor. The lamp quantity sensor provides a lamp quantity signal that indicates how many lamps are connected to the ballast. The regulator circuit includes a reference adjustment circuit that receives the lamp quantity signal and provides a scaled reference signal to a reference terminal of an error amplifier. The error amplifier also has a feedback terminal that receives a signal that is proportional to the power delivered by the inverter to the lamps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Universal Lighting Technologies
    Inventors: Daoshen Chen, Bryce L. Hesterman
  • Patent number: 6271008
    Abstract: This invention relates to yeast-mediated catalysis in organic solvents, and in particular the yeast-mediated condensation between pyruvate and a substituted aromatic aldehyde to yield the corresponding acyloin (hydroxy ketone) compound. The invention provides a method of synthesis of a substituted carbinol compound, comprising the step of subjecting the corresponding substituted aromatic aldehyde to acyloin condensation mediated by a yeast in an organic solvent under non-fermenting conditions. Preferably the yeast is Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In a preferred embodiment, the reaction is that between pyruvate and benzaldehyde to yield phenylacetylcarbinol, the precursor to ephedrine, to yield a product of high enantiomeric purity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignees: Victoria University of Technology, Polychip Pharmaceuticals PTY LTD
    Inventors: Andrew John Smallridge, Maurice Arthur Trewhella, Margaret Mary Del Guidice
  • Patent number: 6272265
    Abstract: An optical conduit (53) for transmitting and releasing luminescent radiation (61, 62, 63) emitted from a luminescent concentrator (51), the luminescent concentrator (51) and optical conduit (52) comprising an optical system which is adapted to release to an area to be illuminated the luminescent radiation which is otherwise trapped in the optical system by total internal reflection. The optical conduit (53) includes a luminaire (57), such as a plurality of scattering regions for scattering trapped light so that the scattered light acquires the angle of incidence required to released from the conduit (53). The scattering regions may be provided by shape irregularities on the surface of the conduit (53) or inhomogeneities within the conduit (53). The conduit (53) may consist of flexible overlaid light guides (65a, 65b and 65c) and a luminaire fitting (55) optically coupled thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignees: Sky Solutions Limited, University of Technology, Sydney
    Inventor: James Bruce Franklin
  • Patent number: 6227797
    Abstract: This invention relates to rotary pumps adapted, but not exclusively, for use as artificial hearts or ventricular assist devices and, in particular, discloses in preferred forms a seal-less shaft-less pump featuring open or closed (shrouded) impeller blades with the edges of the blades used as hydrodynamic thrust bearing and with electromagnetic torque provided by the interaction between magnets embedded in the blades and a rotating current pattern generated in coils fixed relative to the pump housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: VentrAssist Pty Ltd and University of Technology
    Inventors: Peter Andrew Watterson, Geoffrey Douglas Tansley, John Campbell Woodard
  • Patent number: 6210497
    Abstract: A super heat-resisting molybdenum-based alloy is disclosed. The alloy includes two or more alloying elements, the type and amount of the alloying elements being determined such that their average d-orbital energy level (average Md) and average bond order (average Bo) satisfy the following formula (3) and such that Tm is in the range of 2250-2700° C. in the following formula (4), the average Md and Bo being calculated by the formulas (1) and (2), and the bond order (Bo) with molybdenum and a d-orbital energy level being determined by the DV−X&agr; cluster method: Average Bo=&Sgr;Boi×C1  (1) Average Md=&Sgr;Mdi×Ci  (2) 1.718≦average Md≦1.881  (3) Tm(°C.)=(average Bo−0.165×average Md−4.899)/9.279×10−5  (4) wherein, Boi is a bond order of element “i”, Mdi is a d-orbital energy level of element “i”, and C1 is an atomic percent of element “i”.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignees: Doryokuro Kakunenryo Kaihatsu Jigyodan, Toyohashi University of Technology
    Inventors: Junichi Saito, Yoshiaki Tachi, Shigeki Kano, Masahiko Morinaga, Yoshinori Murata, Satoshi Inoue, Mitsuaki Furui
  • Patent number: 6202253
    Abstract: A cylinder lock door closure device. In an exemplary application, the cylinder lock door closure device includes a cylindrical housing, a piston assembly, an arm assembly, a cylindrical catch piece and a hard stop whereby when a door is opened past 90° open, it will automatically lock in an open position. When the door is tapped toward the open position, the automatic lock will be released and the door returned to a closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Universal Friendly Technologies LLC
    Inventor: Matthew Green
  • Patent number: 6194852
    Abstract: A high speed, brushless, DC motor has a rotor comprising a solid rare earth magnet core magnetized diametrically. The rotor includes a sleeve surrounding the magnet core to radially constrain the core during high speed rotation thereof. The sleeve extends axially in both directions from the core to form a hollow shaft for the rotor. The sleeve is formed of non-magnetic, low electrical conductivity material. Control circuitry is provided including an electronic inverter of a predetermined rating, the control circuitry including means to maintain substantially constant power through the range of motor speeds from a base speed to a maximum speed while maintaining a power factor close to 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignees: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, University of Technology, Sydney
    Inventors: Howard C Lovatt, Peter Andrew Watterson
  • Patent number: 6183633
    Abstract: A separator for separating material from a fluid which includes an inlet, a separating chamber in fluid communication with the inlet, a holding chamber, a deflector for deflecting material entrained in or moving with fluid entering the separating chamber from the inlet towards the holding chamber, and an outlet for permitting flow of fluid from which the material has been removed from the separating chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: Swinburne University of Technology
    Inventor: Donald Ian Phillips