Patents Assigned to University of Technology
  • Patent number: 6175762
    Abstract: The invention concerns an EEG based activation system that may be used to turn an appliance ON or OFF. EEG signals have been used for control purposes using biofeedback methods. However, the drawbacks of this are the learning time required by a subject which may take days or months. The present invention provides a simplified EEG based system for activation of an appliance. The system has an input port to receive electrical signals from scalp electrodes (2, 3), an amplifier (5) to amplify the signals, a bandpass filter (6) to filter the signals and a signal averager (8) to smooth out the signals. Furthermore, the signal averager integrates any received signal in the passband of the filter and provides a ramping output, and the integrating time constant being between one and five seconds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2001
    Assignee: University of Technology, Sydney
    Inventors: Leslie Kirkup, Andrew Peter Searle, Paul Francis McIsaac, Ashley Ronald Craig
  • Patent number: 6136177
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for determining the current densities in an alumina reduction cell by the measuring of magnetic fields without contact with the anodes or cathodes. The current density is modelled by determining the currents in the anodes and/or cathodes by measuring the magnetic field produced by the anodes or cathodes, or the conductors feeding them, and electronically correcting for ambient effects. The apparatus consists of Hall Effect devices to measure the magnetic field and electronics to correct, display, log and analyze the data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: Universal Dynamics Technologies
    Inventor: Oliver K. Hung
  • Patent number: 6127604
    Abstract: The invention relates a DNA molecule which is a partial fragment of an intergenic region of a BBTV component or alternatively which DNA molecule is derived from said intergenic region whereby the DNA molecule is capable of promoting, enhancing, regulating, or modifying transcription of a non-BBTV gene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: Queensland University of Technology
    Inventors: James Langham Dale, Robert Maxwell Harding, Benjamin Dugdale, Peter Ronald Beetham, Gregory John Hafner, Douglas Kenneth Becker
  • Patent number: 6106787
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for altering the physical characteristics of liquids and gases. The fluid is pumped into an elongated cylindrical chamber whose elongated wall contains a multiplicity of spaced apart cylindrical holes under sufficient pressure to cause the fluid to exit from the cylindrical holes as jets having an exit velocity of at least 0.025 feet (0.0076 m) per second. The jets of fluid exit from the cylindrical holes into an annular chamber surrounding the elongated cylindrical chamber and having a common axis as the elongated cylindrical chamber. The entire inner surface of the annular chamber is coated with an alloy of copper and nickel. The jets of fluid bombard the surfaces of the annular chamber to induce the copper-nickel alloy to give up electrons. The freed electrons combine with a significant number of molecules of the fluid to thereby alter the physical characteristics of the entire body of fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: Universal Environmental Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: William W. Rippetoe, David N. Shroff
  • Patent number: 6089309
    Abstract: A gradient material is manufactured in which the alloy composition varies continuously with the cross-section. A first metal liquid is introduced from a first tundish into the outer portion of a water-cooled mould. A second metal liquid is introduced into the inner portion of the water-cooled mould through a refractory entry nozzle immersed in the first metal liquid to form a metal liquid pool. The metal liquid pool is solidified into an ingot where the composition of alloys varies continuously from the inside to the outside of the ingot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: South China University of Technology
    Inventor: Yu Ge
  • Patent number: 6059438
    Abstract: A lighting system for an interior of a building and the like includes a stack (102) of fluorescent sheets for collecting and converting sunlight into concentrated light. The stack (102) is of a substantially rectangular prism shape having top and bottom surfaces, opposed side surfaces defining therebetween a width of the stack (102), and opposed end surfaces defining therebetween a length of the stack (102), wherein the length of the stack (102) is sufficiently greater than the width of the stack (102) such that its aspect ratio as herein defined is greater than 4.0. The lighting system also includes a flexible light guide (104) for channeling the concentrated light to a light emitting fitting for the interior of the building or the like. The light guide (104) is optically coupled by optical joint (103) with the stack (102) through one of the end surfaces of the stack (102).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignees: Geoffrey Burton Smith, James Bruce Franklin, Skydome Industries Limited, University of Technology
    Inventors: Geoffrey Burton Smith, James Bruce Franklin
  • Patent number: 6045578
    Abstract: Paraxial rays and marginal rays entering the eye do not share a common point of focus in emmetropes, adults usually having a slightly positive spherical aberration. There is provided a method of treatment and prevention of myopia by inducing positive spherical aberration in the myopic eye. The cornea 30 of a myopic eye 31 is fitted with a lens 32 having its outer surface 34 formed having increasing dioptric power away from the axis 35 of the lens and cornea 30. Paraxial light rays 36 entering the central portion 37 of the lens 32 are focused on the retina 40 of the eye 31, producing a clear image of an object. Marginal light rays 41 entering the peripheral portion 42 of the cornea 30 are focused in a plane between the cornea 30 and the retina 40, and produce positive spherical aberration of the image on the latter. This positive spherical aberration produces a physiological effect on the eye which tends to inhibit growth of the eye, thus mitigating the tendency for the myopic eye to grow longer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: Queensland University of Technology
    Inventors: Michael John Collins, Christine Frances Wildsoet
  • Patent number: 6040075
    Abstract: There is disclosed an electrolytic or fuel cell arrangement comprising a stacking of bipolar elements (21, 31, 41), each element comprising an anode part (22) and a cathode part (23), the anode part of one element cooperating with the cathode part of the next adjacent element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: Loughborough University of Technology
    Inventors: Paul Leonard Adcock, Philip John Mitchell, Simon Edward Foster
  • Patent number: 6036849
    Abstract: A method of removing hydrocarbons from soils contaminated with various hydrocarbons such as gasoline, diesel fuel, solvents, motor oil and crude oil. The process first screens the soil to remove oversized rocks and debris and to reduce the contaminated soil to uniformly sized particles. The soil particles are moved along a conveyor and first sprayed with an oxidizer diluted with ionized water and then sprayed with only ionized water. The washed particles are then vigorously mixed with their entrained oxidizer and ionized water in an auger mixer for several minutes to oxidize almost all of the remaining hydrocarbons. The washed and hydrocarbon-free soil is then moved by conveyor to a stockpile for storage, testing and drying.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: Universal Environmental Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: William W. Rippetoe, David N. Shroff
  • Patent number: 6031428
    Abstract: A Steered Frequency Phase Lock Loop (SFPLL) comprises a phase loop that functions like a normal phase locked loop (PLL) and locks to the input signal, and a frequency loop that uses a reference frequency to influence the phase loop and effectively confines the output frequency of the phase loop and the SFPLL to be in a range of frequencies close to the reference frequency. The reference frequency is chosen to be very close to the input signal frequency that it is desired the SFPLL lock to. The SFPLL comprises a phase detector (10), a frequency detector (22), first and second gain components (12, 24), first, second and third filter components (14, 18, 26), a summer (16) and a voltage controlled oscillator (VCP)(20). By a judicious choice of the gains in the phase and frequency loops the SFPLL can be designed so that the range of frequencies to which the SFPLL will lock can be confined to an arbitrarily small region around the reference frequency (.omega.'.sub.r).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: Curtin University of Technology
    Inventor: Martin Hill
  • Patent number: 5993738
    Abstract: A method for disinfecting an airstream containing microorganisms by electrostatic precipitation by passing the airstream through the space between at least one grounded collection plate having at least one electrode spaced apart therefrom connected to a source of electrical potential, wherein the improvement comprises contacting the airstream with a photocatalyst having a predetermined band gap energy coated on the surface of each grounded collection plate and illuminated with photons having a wavelength corresponding to the band gap energy of the photocatalyst, so that at least a portion of the microorganisms that collect on the grounded collection plate are destroyed by photocatalytic oxidation. Devices embodying disinfecting methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Universal Air Technology
    Inventor: D. Yogi Goswani
  • Patent number: 5979170
    Abstract: An apparatus for producing dried and dehumidified cooling air for bulk stored grains and other produce from which moisture evaporates comprising a multiplicity of narrow elongate beds 2 of desiccant between which a multiplicity of heat exchange channels 3 providing heat exchange surfaces 4 in contact with each bed 2 of desiccant are provided. Air to be treated is passed through the beds 2 of desiccant while secondary air is forced through the heat exchange channels 3 to cool and remove the heat of sorption collected by the desiccant from the air being treated. desiccant can be regenerated by passing heated air through the beds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Victoria University of Technology
    Inventor: Graham R Thorpe
  • Patent number: 5951928
    Abstract: A charging barrel and screw as well as their associated components for carrying out the processes of plasticization, injection and pressure maintaining of the polymer are all disposed in the inner cavity of a metal moving body driven to rotate pulsatorily by an electromagnetic winding. At the time when the screw and the metal moving body are simultaneously rotating pulsatorily, the screw is at the same time making axial pulsative displaments, so that the processes of plasticization, injection and pressure maintaining are all carried out in a periodic oscillating state. This type of injection moulding method and apparatus have the advantages of small volume, light weight, low manufacturing cost, low energy consumption, low noises, wide adaptability to materials and excellent quality of the moulded products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: South China University of Technology
    Inventor: Qu Jinping
  • Patent number: 5933702
    Abstract: A method for disinfecting an air stream containing microorganisms including the steps of providing an air stream containing microorganisms having a relative humidity greater than about 40%; and contacting the air stream with a photocatalyst having a predetermined band gap energy in the presence of a source of photons having a wavelength corresponding to the band gap energy of the photocatalyst, so that at least a portion of the microorganisms in the air stream are destroyed by photocatalyfic oxidation. Devices embodying the method of the invention are disclosed, such as stand-alone devices and devices incorporated into the HVAC systems of buildings, including the air supply registers. Photocatalyst-coated filter media capable of trapping bioaerosols are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: Universal Air Technology
    Inventor: D. Yogi Goswami
  • Patent number: 5846507
    Abstract: This invention relates to a catalyst for ammonia synthesis. The main phase of the catalyst is a non-stoichiometric ferrous oxide expressed as Fe.sub.1-x O, which is structurally in a Wustite crystal phase form having the rock salt face-centered cubic lattice with lattice paracueter of 0.427-0.433 nm. This catalyst, which has quick reduction rate and high activity, and remarkably lowers the reaction temperature, is especially applicable as an ideal low-temperature, low-pressure ammonia synthesis catalsyt and can be widely used in ammonia synthesis industry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: Zhejiang University of Technology
    Inventors: Huazhang Liu, Ruyu Xu, Zurong Jiang, Zhangneng Hu, Yanying Li, Xiaonian Li
  • Patent number: 5835840
    Abstract: A system to disinfect and detoxify indoor duct-transported air to improve the quality thereof. A reactor is provided across a duct or housing and consists of a coated surface along the airstream path on which a semiconductor catalyst such as TiO.sub.2 has been coated. Ultraviolet lamps are installed in the reactor such that the catalyst is exposed to UV rays as the air passes over it. As the photons of ultraviolet light are absorbed on the TiO.sub.2 catalyst in the presence of water molecules in the air, hydroxyl radicals are created, which, in turn, cause the destruction of chemical and microbiological contaminants in the air. A relative humidity of 50%, under specific conditions of residence time provides an efficient number of water molecules to cause inactivation of microorganisms. The catalyst may be fixed on the matrix or on the surface of the duct as long as the ultraviolet light is incident on the catalyst as the air moves across it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Universal Air Technology
    Inventor: D. Yogi Goswami
  • Patent number: 5792960
    Abstract: A tool for measuring the extent of decay in a wooden object, comprising an elongated probe adapted to be inserted in an inspection hole drilled in the wooden object. The tool has at least one barb protruding therefrom adjacent to one end of the probe. The barb is designed to engage a side wall of the inspection hole so as to shear wood fibers in the side wall as the probe is withdrawn. There is indicator mechanically coupled to the probe for measuring the amount of pull-force required to shear the wood fibers in the inspection hole. The indicator includes a deflector mechanically connected to the other end of the probe and adapted to provide a measurable deflection as the pull-force required to shear the wood fibers increases. In use, when the pull-force exceeds a predetermined value, the indicator provides an indication of a transition within the wooden object from decaying wood to sound wood.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1998
    Assignees: The Electricity Corporation, Curtin University of Technology
    Inventors: David Anthony Lewis, Geoffrey Neville Boughton
  • Patent number: 5778740
    Abstract: A bottle cap remover is activated by inserting a bottle into an orifice. A detector adjacent the orifice detects the presence of the bottle and causes a linear actuator to drive a gripping device away from the top of the bottle where the cap is located. As the gripping device is moving away from the bottle cap, cam members direct hooked members of the gripping device around the bottle cap so that it is pulled off of and away from the bottle as the linear actuator drives the gripping device away from the bottle top. Once the bottle cap is removed, the linear actuator recycles to ready the bottle cap remover for the next bottle cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Assignee: Universal Aqua Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: David Tye
  • Patent number: 5766520
    Abstract: A method of preserving sensitive biological dispersions, suspensions, emulsions and solutions by forming stable foams from fluid materials to be dehydrated, as an aid both to the drying of one or more biologically active substrates in the fluid and as an aid in preparing an easily divisible dried product suitable for further commercial use. The stable foams are formed by partially removing the water to form a viscous liquid and by further subjecting the reduced liquid to vacuum, to cause it to "boil" during further drying at temperatures substantially lower than 100 degrees C. In other words, reduced pressure is applied to viscous solutions or suspensions of biologically active materials to cause the solutions or suspensions to foam during boiling, and during the foaming process further solvent removal causes the ultimate production of a stable open-cell or closed-cell foam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Assignee: Universal Preservation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Victor Bronshtein
  • Patent number: 5756708
    Abstract: The invention provides DNA molecules consisting essentially of a nucleotide sequence or part thereof which are asosciated with the genome of banana bunchy top virus (BBTV) as illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 8 (SEQ ID NOS: 49-54, 27-37, 55-60, 38-48, and 9-23, respectively) of the specification attached herewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Queensland University of Technology
    Inventors: Mirko Karan, Thomas Michael Burns, James Langham Dale, Robert Maxwell Harding