Patents by Inventor A. Smith

A. Smith 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).

  • Rolling mill temperature control
    Patent number: 8978436
    Abstract: For controlling the flatness of the strip during the rolling of aluminum strip or foil, the system consists of a full width bank of cryogenic roll cooling devices acting on the roll(s) and a full width bank of roll heating devices also acting the roll(s). Both or either of the cooling and heating banks are divided into individually controllable zones. A process automation system controls the action of the cooling and heating banks via feedback from a strip shape meter and/or a predictive process model, in order, by thermal growth/contraction, to create the best roll profile for rolling flat strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens PLC
    Inventors: Alan Douglas McRae, Paul Ronald Osborne, Peter Derrick Smith
  • Process for obtaining highly pure litharge from lead acid battery paste
    Patent number: 8980203
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the recovery of high purity litharge from spent lead acid battery paste at a low temperature which does not produce sulfur dioxide. In the process lead acetate or other lead salt is produced which is converted to high purity litharge by precipitation with a base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Retriev Technologies Incorporated
    Inventors: W. Novis Smith, Steven Kinsbursky
  • Fungal beta-xylosidase variants
    Patent number: 8980578
    Abstract: The present invention provides fungal xylanase and/or beta-xylosidase enzymes suitable for use in saccharification reactions. The present application further provides genetically modified fungal organisms that produce xylanase and/or beta-xylosidases, as well as enzyme mixtures exhibiting enhanced hydrolysis of cellulosic material to fermentable sugars, enzyme mixtures produced by the genetically modified fungal organisms, and methods for producing fermentable sugars from cellulose using such enzyme mixtures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Codexis, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan Fong, Xiyun Zhang, Chris Noriega, Nicholas Agard, Anupam Gohel, Derek Smith
  • Extended production of nitric oxide from microencapsulated chemical reactants
    Patent number: 8980331
    Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for generating and applying long-lasting therapeutic nitric oxide (NO) gas from the reaction of water-soluble chemical reactants microencapsulated in polymer matrices. In some applications the microencapsulated reactants are introduced in an aqueous gel, and in other applications they are introduced to the area of therapy either directly or in a medical device such as a therapeutic pad or dressing. In some applications, the microencapsulated chemical precursors are maintained in close physical proximity to one another in a limited volume, and using a limited amount of solvent residing within that same volume to extract and process the chemical precursors to form NO.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Nioxx LLC
    Inventors: Cheng-Shing Chen, Ferid Murad, Kenneth A Smith, William A Seitz, William J Merrell, Alexandru T Balaban
  • Nozzle header
    Patent number: 8978437
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method provided for spraying a coolant to a work piece include a coolant feed line, at least one delivery nozzle for delivering the coolant, and shielding means which surround at least part of said delivery nozzle. The shielding means are arranged with the work piece to form an essentially closed space, and said shielding means includes exhausting means for exhausting gas from the essentially closed space, and means for keeping the outside of the shielding means at a temperature above the dew point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignees: Linde Aktiengesellschaft, Siemens PLC
    Inventors: Akin Malas, Brian King, Laszlo Szeman, Peter D. Smith, Paul Bowcher, Mike Clark, Peter Christoforou
  • Audio monitor and event-conflict signaling system
    Patent number: 8983761
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product embodiments for an audio monitoring and event-conflict signaling system. An embodiment operates by receiving airport audio communication originating from an airport control tower (ATCT) of an airport with one or more runways or a flight deck of an aircraft. The system determines one or more keywords corresponding to a runway event affecting operations of a particular runway of the airport. The system detects, within the airport audio communication, a conflict comprising a correspondence between the airport audio communication and one or more of the keywords, and notifies the ACT of the conflict.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: The MITRE Corporation
    Inventors: Elida C. Smith, Herbert T. King, Robert M. Tarakan, Hunter Kopald, Shuo Chen
  • Pumping system and method for assisting a patient's heart
    Patent number: 8979742
    Abstract: A cannula for a patient includes an elongate body having a length of at least 70 cm and a channel extending through the body defining a wall. The cannula includes a wire embodied within at least a portion of the wall. The body has a proximal end, a distal end having a tip opening through which the channel extends and a plurality of side holes through the wall in proximity to the tip for unimpeded flow of blood at the distal end. The cannula includes a barbed fitting at the proximal end. The cannula includes a suture wing for securing the elongated body to the patient. A system for assisting a patient's heart. A method for assisting a patient's heart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: CardiacAssist, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas E. Smith, Jennifer Wivholm, Robert G. Svitek, Cory J. Cortese, Robert Bollinger, Michael Garippa
  • Method and apparatus for surgical fastening
    Patent number: 8979874
    Abstract: A surgical fastener system includes a plurality of fasteners having a throughbore with an internally threaded portion. The fasteners may engage with a threaded mandrel that passes through the throughbore of the fasteners. A rotator may rotate the fasteners relative to the mandrel to move at least one of the fasteners along the mandrel, e.g., along the mandrel's longitudinal axis. A distal end of the mandrel may be inserted into a material, such as a tissue, prosthetic or other, and a fastener may be deployed from the distal end of the mandrel while the distal end is positioned in the material. The throughbore of the fasteners may include a threaded portion and an unthreaded portion, may include an angled face or other feature to aid in fastener deployment and/or have curved depressions in the head portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Davol, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger E. Darois, Augustus Felix, Alan Bachman, Ray Adams, Joseph Paul, Ed Chester, Adam Lehman, Barry Smith, Jeff Stein
  • Gaming system and method providing an award for designated losing conditions
    Patent number: 8979641
    Abstract: The gaming system and method disclosed herein provides an award to one or more players for a non-occurrence of a designated event. The gaming system monitors a plurality of games played at a plurality of gaming devices. If the designated event occurs, the gaming system resets an event counter associated with tracking the non-occurrence of the designated event. If the designated event does not occur, the gaming system: (i) increments the event counter to account for the non-occurrence of the designated event, and (ii) determines if the quantity of games played since the last event occurred at least equals a predetermined quantity of games played. If the quantity of games played since the last event occurred at least equals the predetermined quantity, the gaming system provides one or more of the players an award for the non-occurrence of the designated event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Anthony J. Baerlocher, Daniel J. De Waal, Lance R. Peterson, Vincent P. Smith
  • Signal operated isolation valve
    Patent number: 8978750
    Abstract: A method of drilling a wellbore includes drilling the wellbore through a formation by injecting drilling fluid through a drill string and rotating a drill bit. The drill string includes a shifting tool, a receiver in communication with the shifting tool, and the drill bit. The method further includes retrieving the drill string from the wellbore through a casing string until the shifting tool reaches an actuator. The casing string includes an isolation valve in an open position and the actuator. The method further includes sending a wireless instruction signal to the receiver. The shifting tool engages the actuator in response to the receiver receiving the instruction signal. The method further includes operating the actuator using the engaged shifting tool, thereby closing the isolation valve and isolating the formation from an upper portion of the wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Joe Noske, Roddie R. Smith, Paul L. Smith, Thomas F. Bailey, Christopher L. McDowell, Frederick T. Tilton
  • Apparatus for a circuit interrupter
    Patent number: 8982515
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an enclosure; a connector structured to mechanically and electrically engage a power circuit; a transmitter structured to transmit a signal having a frequency substantially greater than a power line frequency to the connector; and a user interface structured to cause the transmitter to transmit the signal to the connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Ryan A. Smith
  • Extent consolidation and storage group allocation
    Patent number: 8984252
    Abstract: Data is added to a data set to cause a growth in size of the data set, wherein the data set belongs to a storage group, and wherein the data set is comprised of extents. The data set is included into a new storage group, in response to determining that the growth in the size of the data set has caused a predetermined threshold for a size limit of the storage group to be exceeded. The extents of the data set are restructured to satisfy a predetermined condition on the extents of the data set, in response to determining that the growth in the size of the data set has caused the predetermined condition on the extents included in the data set to be not satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kyle Barret Dudgeon, Miguel Angel Perez, David Charles Reed, Max Douglas Smith
  • Superwetting surfaces for diminishing leidenfrost effect, methods of making and devices incorporating the same
    Patent number: 8983019
    Abstract: Textured surface for increasing Leidenfrost temperature. The texture comprises of surface features over multiple length scales—from micro to nanoscale—wherein the features at each length scale have a size, aspect ratio, and spacing selected to increase the Leidenfrost temperature. The structure includes an array of microscale structures disposed on the surface, the structure having size, aspect ratio and spacing selected to increase Leidenfrost temperature. The microscale structures may also include nanoscale structures on their surface to create a hierarchical structure. The structures result in an increased Leidenfrost temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Kripa K. Varanasi, Jonathan D. Smith, Adam T. Paxson, Christopher J. Love, Hyukmin Kwon, Dieter B. Brommer
  • Automatic calibration of a gaze direction algorithm from user behavior
    Patent number: 8982046
    Abstract: A method of calibrating the eye gaze direction of a user, the method including the steps of: (a) monitoring a user's eye gaze direction whilst carrying out a series of predetermined tasks, each of the tasks having an expected subject gaze direction; and (b) correlating the user's eye gaze direction with the expected direction for a statistically significant period of time; (c) calculating, from the correlating step, a series of likely eye gaze direction usage parameters associated with the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Seeing Machines Limited
    Inventors: Timothy James Henry Edwards, Nicholas John Langdale-Smith
  • Power stack control systems
    Patent number: 8984197
    Abstract: The disclosed inventions relate to the field of power control electronics. More specifically the disclosed inventions pertain to Power Stack Control Systems which are used to control the generation of AC power from a DC or AC input voltage. The disclosed Power Stack Control Systems include a serial interface connection, the serial interface connection being in serial electrical communication with a plurality of power stacks, the plurality of power stacks comprising at least one interface board and at least one IGBT driver board, the at least one interface board being in parallel communication with at least one IGBT driver board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: AgileSwitch, LLC
    Inventors: Albert J. Charpentier, Robin L. Weber, Alan K. Smith
  • Administration of a NEDD8-activating enzyme inhibitor and hypomethylating agent
    Patent number: 8980850
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods for the treatment of cancer in patients in recognized need of such treatment. The methods comprise administering to such a patient an NAE inhibitor or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, such as ((1S,2S,4R)-4-(4-((1S)-2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-1-ylamino)-7H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidin-7-yl)-2-hydroxycyclopentyl)methyl sulfamate (MLN4924) or {(1S,2S,4R)-4-[(6-{[(1R,2S)-5-chloro-2-methoxy-2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-1-yl]amino}pyrimidin-4-yl)oxy]-2-hydroxycyclopentyl}methyl sulfamate (I-216), and a hypomethylating agent or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, such as azacitidine or decitabine. Also disclosed are medicaments for use in the treatment of cancer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter G. Smith
  • Biological sterilization indicator and method of using same
    Patent number: 8980622
    Abstract: A biological sterilization indicator (BI) and a method of using same for assaying the lethality of a sterilization process. The BI can include a housing, which can include a first portion, and a second portion, which can be movable with respect to the first portion between a first and second position. The BI can further include a frangible container comprising a liquid. The BI can further include a spore reservoir and a projection positioned in the housing. The projection can be configured to fracture the container when the second portion of the housing is moved from the first position to the second position. The method can include maintaining a minimal cross-sectional area of space around the container when the second portion of the housing is in the first position, and fracturing the container in response to moving the second portion between the first and second positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. Smith, Jeffrey C. Pederson, Sailaja Chandrapati
  • Notch re-blend in an object model
    Patent number: 8983802
    Abstract: A method for a CAD system, a CAD system, and instructions for a CAD system. A method includes receiving an object model including a plurality of features. The method includes creating a blend as part of the object model, using at least one of the features, and removing the used features. The method includes creating a construction body corresponding to the object model, and storing the removed features in the construction body. The method includes performing a CAD operation on the object model using the features stored in the construction body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Product Lifecycle Management Software Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Philip Lonsdale Nanson, Richard Charles Collins, Alexandra Jane Smith
  • Conduit and method of forming
    Patent number: 8980036
    Abstract: A thin ribbon spirally wound polymer conduit and method of forming, wherein a helical reinforcing bead is interposed adjacent overlapping layers of ribbon. Further, a method of continuously forming spirally wound conduit wherein a sacrificial layer, preferably having a different base polymer to that of the conduit, is first applied to the former before the conduit is formed overtop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited
    Inventors: Daniel John Smith, Nathan Lee Gray, Blair Victor Skelton
  • Selectively configurable chair system
    Patent number: RE45417
    Abstract: A stowable chair system having a base assembly and a back pivotably connected to the base assembly. A first leg retention assembly operatively coupled to the base assembly to selectively retain and position legs in a seating configuration. A second leg retention assembly separate from the first leg retention assembly to selectively retain and position the legs in a stowing configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: SmithWorks, Inc.
    Inventor: David L. Smith