Patents by Inventor A. Blum

A. Blum has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 12357442
    Abstract: Beak opening apparatus and methods of using the same are described herein. The beak opening apparatus includes a beak splitter and beak opening actuator along with a control unit used to operate the beak opening actuator to move the beak splitter between a home position and an opening position to open the beak of a bird.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2024
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2025
    Assignee: Nova-Tech Engineering, LLC
    Inventors: Nathan A. Blum, Jeff Deming, Matthew H. Erickson, Scott C. Johnson, James Kleven, Greg R. Swenson
  • Publication number: 20250171771
    Abstract: Described herein is a method for identifying combinations of perturbations that result in a cellular phenotype. In some embodiments, the method may comprise making a library of cells that have received combinations of perturbations, analyzing a subset of the cells at a single cell level, by measuring a phenotype in the cells and identifying which combinations of perturbations have been applied to the cells and, based on the results obtained from the analysis, calculating scores for the identified combinations of perturbations and scores for theoretical combinations of the perturbations, wherein each score indicates the likelihood that a combination of perturbation generates the phenotype.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2023
    Publication date: May 29, 2025
    Inventors: Sandy L. KLEMM, Samuel Heeju KIM, Jacob A. BLUM, William J. GREENLEAF
  • Publication number: 20240415100
    Abstract: Poultry cradles and methods of restraining birds are disclosed. Each poultry cradle may include a torso support, one or more shank clamps, one or more optional shank guides, and a head support. Restraining the shanks of birds using separate shank clamps and optional shank guides can provide additional control over the shanks and, therefore, the toes, of the restrained birds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2022
    Publication date: December 19, 2024
    Inventors: Dominic Oerter, Matthew H. Erickson, Nathan A. Blum
  • Publication number: 20240415091
    Abstract: The poultry cradle unloading systems and methods described herein provide for the unloading of birds and, in some cases, placement of the birds in a selected location among two or more possible selected locations. The unloading may be accomplished in a manner that promotes safety for the birds by releasing the birds such that they are predisposed to landing in an upright orientation after release from a cradle. The unloading may involve releasing the head before releasing the legs of the bird. The cradle and/or bird retained in the cradle may be oriented such that the bird is held at an angle such that the head of the bird is located forward of the hock joints.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2022
    Publication date: December 19, 2024
    Inventors: Scott C. Johnson, Nathan A. Blum
  • Patent number: 12160229
    Abstract: A switch assembly for a radio frequency signal and corresponding radio frequency module and wireless device is disclosed. An example switch assembly comprises a first node coupled to an input of the switch assembly, a second node coupled to an output of the switch assembly, a first control node, and a common node; a first switch having a first plurality of transistors coupled between the first and second nodes, each transistor of the first plurality of transistors having a gate, a drain, and a source, each gate of the first plurality of transistors being coupled to the common node; a common resistor coupled between the first control node and the common node; and a second switch coupled between the first control node and the common node in parallel to the common resistor, the second switch configured to selectively bypass the common resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2024
    Assignee: SKYWORKS SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Gregory A. Blum, Ajinkya Namdeorao More, Kyle James Miller
  • Patent number: 12089605
    Abstract: Shrimp processing apparatus to head and optionally sever the mud veins of shrimp, along with methods for heading and mud vein severing are described herein. The shrimp processing apparatus may be provided in systems may include one or more processing stations configured to perform one or more of the following functions on each shrimp: measurement of individual shrimp, severing the mud vein of individual shrimp, and heading of individual shrimp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: Nova-Tech Engineering, LLC
    Inventors: Elliot D. Eid, Matthew R. Biel, Nathan A. Blum, Jeff Deming, Roger Harkess, Jeremy Imdieke, Robert Johnson, Dana Mathew Molenaar, Jacob Rooney, Shaun Remmel, Marc Zinda
  • Publication number: 20240276996
    Abstract: Shrimp processing apparatus to sever the mud veins of shrimp, along with methods for heading and mud vein severing are described herein. The shrimp processing apparatus may be provided in systems may include one or more processing stations configured to perform one or more of the following functions on each shrimp: measurement of individual shrimp, severing the mud vein of individual shrimp, and remove of pleopods of individual shrimp.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2024
    Publication date: August 22, 2024
    Inventors: Elliot D. Eid, Matthew R. Biel, Nathan A. Blum, Jeff Deming, Roger Harkess, Jeremy Imdieke, Robert Johnson, Dana Mathew Molenaar, Jacob Rooney, Shaun Remmel, Marc Zinda
  • Patent number: 12029222
    Abstract: A shrimp processing method and system, the system comprising a plurality of clamps, wherein each clamp is configured to hold a shrimp proximate a tail of the shrimp, a plurality of processing stations comprising at least one data collection station capable of collecting data regarding a shrimp held in a clamp and at least one functional station capable of changing the shrimp held in a clamp, a conveying system connecting the plurality of processing stations, the conveying system configured to move the plurality of clamps between the processing stations, and a controller operably connected to the conveying system and the processing stations, the controller configured to operate the conveying system and to selectively activate each processing station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: Nova-Tech Engineering, LLC
    Inventors: Elliot D. Eid, Matthew R. Biel, Nathan A. Blum, Jeff Deming, Roger Harkess, Derek Gramstad, Jeremy Imdieke, Robert Johnson, Dana Mathew Molenaar, Jacob Rooney, Shaun Remmel, Christopher J. Stark, John Steckelberg, Joseph Thiel, Marc Zinda
  • Publication number: 20240207029
    Abstract: Beak opening apparatus and methods of using the same are described herein. The beak opening apparatus includes a beak splitter and beak opening actuator along with a control unit used to operate the beak opening actuator to move the beak splitter between a home position and an opening position to open the beak of a bird.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2024
    Publication date: June 27, 2024
    Inventors: Nathan A. Blum, Jeff Deming, Matthew H. Erickson, Scott C. Johnson, James Kleven, Greg R. Swenson
  • Patent number: 11946225
    Abstract: One embodiment of a hydraulic system for a machine has a first hydraulic circuit including a first pump coupled to a first hydraulic actuator configured to move a first implement of the machine. A second hydraulic circuit includes a second pump coupled to a second hydraulic actuator configured to move a second implement. An electric motor mechanically couples to the first pump and to the second pump. An operator interface receives input from an operator requesting movement of the first and second implements. A controller communicatively coupled to the electric motor and to the operator interface determines, based on the requested movement of the first and second implements respectively, first and second flow allocations respectively for the first and second pumps and determines respective target displacements for the first and second pumps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Kalpeshkumar N Patel, Darren A Blum, Aleksandar M Egelja, Barrett A Flinn, Ryan P McEnaney, Trung Q Nguyen, David J Lomax
  • Patent number: 11937997
    Abstract: Systems for delivering material through an open beak to a digestive tract of a bird and methods of using the same are described herein. Beak opening apparatus and methods of using the same are also described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Nova-Tech Engineering, LLC
    Inventors: Nathan A. Blum, Jeff Deming, Matthew H. Erickson, Scott C. Johnson, James Kleven, Greg R. Swenson
  • Patent number: 11729645
    Abstract: According to some implementations, a radio-frequency (RF) device includes a communication interface coupled to a serial bus. The RF device also includes a monitoring component coupled to the communication interface, the monitoring component configured to monitor the serial bus for first data transmitted to a first device coupled to the serial bus and configure the RF device based on the first data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: David Steven Ripley, James Henry Ross, Philip John Lehtola, David Richard Pehlke, James Phillip Young, Gregory A. Blum, David Alan Brown
  • Publication number: 20230246639
    Abstract: A switch assembly for a radio frequency signal and corresponding radio frequency module and wireless device is disclosed. An example switch assembly comprises a first node coupled to an input of the switch assembly, a second node coupled to an output of the switch assembly, a first control node, and a common node; a first switch having a first plurality of transistors coupled between the first and second nodes, each transistor of the first plurality of transistors having a gate, a drain, and a source, each gate of the first plurality of transistors being coupled to the common node; a common resistor coupled between the first control node and the common node; and a second switch coupled between the first control node and the common node in parallel to the common resistor, the second switch configured to selectively bypass the common resistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2022
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Inventors: Gregory A. Blum, Ajinkya Namdeorao More, Kyle James Miller
  • Publication number: 20230138989
    Abstract: Shrimp processing apparatus to head and optionally sever the mud veins of shrimp, along with methods for heading and mud vein severing are described herein. The shrimp processing apparatus may be provided in systems may include one or more processing stations configured to perform one or more of the following functions on each shrimp: measurement of individual shrimp, severing the mud vein of individual shrimp, and heading of individual shrimp.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2021
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Inventors: Elliot D. Eid, Matthew R. Biel, Nathan A. Blum, Jeff Deming, Roger Harkess, Jeremy Imdieke, Robert Johnson, Dana Mathew Molenaar, Jacob Rooney, Shaun Remmel, Marc Zinda
  • Publication number: 20230076498
    Abstract: A shrimp processing method and system, the system comprising a plurality of clamps, wherein each clamp is configured to hold a shrimp proximate a tail of the shrimp, a plurality of processing stations comprising at least one data collection station capable of collecting data regarding a shrimp held in a clamp and at least one functional station capable of changing the shrimp held in a clamp, a conveying system connecting the plurality of processing stations, the conveying system configured to move the plurality of clamps between the processing stations, and a controller operably connected to the conveying system and the processing stations, the controller configured to operate the conveying system and to selectively activate each processing station.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2021
    Publication date: March 9, 2023
    Inventors: Elliot D. Eid, Matthew R. Biel, Nathan A. Blum, Jeff Deming, Roger Harkess, Derek Gramstad, Jeremy Imdieke, Robert Johnson, Dana Mathew Molenaar, Jacob Rooney, Shaun Remmel, Christopher J. Stark, John Steckelberg, Joseph Thiel, Marc Zinda
  • Publication number: 20220381006
    Abstract: One embodiment of a hydraulic system for a machine has a first hydraulic circuit including a first pump coupled to a first hydraulic actuator configured to move a first implement of the machine. A second hydraulic circuit includes a second pump coupled to a second hydraulic actuator configured to move a second implement. An electric motor mechanically couples to the first pump and to the second pump. An operator interface receives input from an operator requesting movement of the first and second implements. A controller communicatively coupled to the electric motor and to the operator interface determines, based on the requested movement of the first and second implements respectively, first and second flow allocations respectively for the first and second pumps and determines respective target displacements for the first and second pumps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2021
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Kalpeshkumar N. Patel, Darren A. Blum, Aleksandar M. Egelja, Barrett A. Flinn, Ryan P. McEnaney, Trung Q. Nguyen, David J. Lomax
  • Publication number: 20210211909
    Abstract: According to some implementations, a radio-frequency (RF) device includes a communication interface coupled to a serial bus. The RF device also includes a monitoring component coupled to the communication interface, the monitoring component configured to monitor the serial bus for first data transmitted to a first device coupled to the serial bus and configure the RF device based on the first data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2020
    Publication date: July 8, 2021
    Inventors: David Steven RIPLEY, James Henry ROSS, Philip John LEHTOLA, David Richard PEHLKE, James Phillip YOUNG, Gregory A. BLUM, David Alan BROWN
  • Publication number: 20210068937
    Abstract: Systems for delivering material through an open beak to a digestive tract of a bird and methods of using the same are described herein. Beak opening apparatus and methods of using the same are also described herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2019
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Inventors: Nathan A. Blum, Jeff Deming, Matthew H. Erickson, Scott C. Johnson, James Kleven, Greg R. Swenson
  • Patent number: 10880764
    Abstract: According to some implementations, a radio-frequency (RF) device includes a communication interface coupled to a serial bus. The RF device also includes a monitoring component coupled to the communication interface, the monitoring component configured to monitor the serial bus for first data transmitted to a first device coupled to the serial bus and configure the RF device based on the first data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: David Steven Ripley, James Henry Ross, Philip John Lehtola, David Richard Pehlke, James Phillip Young, Gregory A. Blum, David Alan Brown
  • Patent number: 10712357
    Abstract: Disclosed are apparatus and methods that provide the ability to electrical stimulate a physical system, and actively eliminate interference with signal acquisition (artifacts) that arises from the stimulation. The technique implemented in the circuits and methods for eliminating interference connects a discharge path to a physical interface to the system to remove charge that is built-up during stimulation. By placing the discharge path in a feedback loop that includes a recording preamplifier and AC-coupling circuitry, the physical interface is brought back to its pre-stimulation offset voltage. The disclosed apparatus and methods may be used with piezoelectric transducers, ultrasound devices, optical diodes, and polarizable and non-polarizable electrodes. The disclosed apparatus can be employed in implantable devices, in vitro or in vivo setups with vertebrate and invertebrate neural tissue, muscle fibers, pancreatic islet cells, osteoblasts, osteoclasts, bacteria, algae, fungi, protists, and plants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventors: Edgar A. Brown, James D. Ross, Richard A. Blum, Stephen P. DeWeerth