Patents by Inventor A. Thomas

A. Thomas 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).

  • Physically modulating friction in a stylus
    Patent number: 9886088
    Abstract: A physically-modulated friction stylus system and method for physically modulating friction between a styli tip and a surface of a computing device to emulate the “feel” of different types of writing instruments writing on different types of surfaces (such as pen on paper or a paintbrush on canvas). The actual friction between the stylus and the surface is modulated to produce the “feel.” The friction is physically modulated “on the fly” meaning that friction can be modulated while the stylus tip is in contact with the surface and while the stylus is moving. The friction is modulated dependent on a location of the stylus on the surface and the posture and orientation of the stylus. In addition, the friction can be modulated based on a direction and a velocity that the stylus tip is moving across the surface. Audio may also be used to improve the emulation experience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Paul Henry Dietz, Kenneth Paul Hinckley, Anoop Gupta, Tristan Thomas Trutna
  • Electrode and optoelectronic component and method for producing an optoelectronic component
    Patent number: 9887379
    Abstract: Various embodiments may relate to an optoelectronic component, including an organic functional layer structure, and an electrode on or above the organic functional layer structure. The electrode is electrically conductively coupled to the organic functional layer structure. The electrode includes an optically transparent or translucent matrix including at least one matrix material, and particles embedded into the matrix. The particles have a refractive index that is greater than the refractive index of the at least one matrix material. A difference in refractive index between the at least one matrix material and the particles embedded into the matrix is at least 0.05.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: OSRAM OLED GmbH
    Inventors: Silke Scharner, Thomas Wehlus
  • Riflescope aiming system
    Patent number: 9885541
    Abstract: A riflescope aiming system that includes a telescopic sight, a multiple-zero-point elevation turret and a ballistics reference system. The multiple-zero-point elevation turret includes a rotatable indicator carrier and a plurality of indicator pins secured to the indicator carrier, each indicator pin corresponding to a predetermined target distance. The ballistics reference system is operably coupled to the objective housing of the telescopic sight and displays ballistics data indicia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Vista Outdoor Operations LLC
    Inventors: Robert J. Meinert, William P. Atwood, Thomas Kramer, Brent R. Cook
  • Device and method for trapping non-aqueous-phase liquids prior to a permeable reactive barrier for the treatment of contaminated groundwater
    Patent number: 9884771
    Abstract: A groundwater treatment system for collecting a non-aqueous-phase liquid (NAPL) in a flow path of contaminated water in a body of water, the contaminated water moving toward a permeable reactive barrier (PRB) including a treatment agent for treating the contaminated groundwater. The groundwater treatment system including a collection layer positioned up-gradient of the PRB and permeable to the NAPL and the contaminated water. The collection layer including a NAPL collecting element to inhibit the NAPL from flowing to the PRB.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: TRC ENVIRONMENTAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: John M. Rice, Thomas R. Stolzenburg
  • High cycle and speed valve
    Patent number: 9885421
    Abstract: A high cycle and speed valve (10) includes a body (12), a valve seat (20) fixed within the body, and a diaphragm (24) that moves between a closed position in which the diaphragm is forced against the valve seat, and an open position in which the diaphragm is released from the valve seat. The valve seat includes a static section (40) that is secured within the body, and a dynamic section (42) that is compressed by the diaphragm when the diaphragm is in the closed position. The static section includes a radially extending flange (44) that is received in a recess (46) formed in the body to secure the static section in the body. The valve includes a body cavity relief space (52) into which the dynamic section compresses in the closed position. The valve further includes a cap (26) that has a dry film lubricant layer (58) that serves as a dry lubricant between the cap and the diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel P. Morgan, Thomas A. Austin
  • Suspended pipe assembly
    Patent number: 9885430
    Abstract: A suspended pipe assembly comprising a first suspended pipe, a second suspended pipe, a third suspended pipe, and a number of suspenders for suspending the pipes from an elevated pipe or pipes of a mobile irrigation system or other fluid distribution system. The first suspended pipe and second suspended pipe are connected together via a fixed joint. The second suspended pipe and third suspended pipe are connected together via a live joint such that the second suspended pipe and third suspended pipe can expand longitudinally relative to each other. Additional suspended pipes can be connected to each other via alternating fixed and live joints. The suspenders allow the suspended pipes to expand longitudinally relative to the elevated pipe and prevents the suspended pipes from warping side-to-side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Lindsay Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas J. Korus
  • Ski binding
    Patent number: 9884245
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a ski binding (1) for the different forms of cross-country skiing, comprising a forward housing part (2) that contains a fixed engagement part (3), a movable engagement part (4), an actuating element (5) for moving the movable engagement part (4) between a locking position and a released position, and at least one flexible element (6) for abutment and cushioning against the front part of a ski shoe. The invention is characterized in that the flexible element (6) is injection molded together with the housing part (2). The present invention also relates to a method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: ROTTEFELLA AS
    Inventors: Thomas Holm, Even Wøllo, Øyvar Svendsen
  • Sealing arrangement of a steam turbine in which a sealing liquid and a vapor steam extraction system are used
    Patent number: 9885246
    Abstract: A sealing arrangement for a duct, through a stationary housing, of a shaft which rotates about an axis is provided, wherein a sealing liquid is used for sealing instead of sealing steam. The sealing arrangement includes a seal, having a vapor steam extraction system, and a feed line, which is arranged between the inner space and the vapor steam extraction system and is designed for supplying a sealing liquid, wherein a labyrinth seal, a brush seal with metallic bristles, a brush seal with bristles made of natural fibers and/or a brush seal made of synthetic fibers is provided for sealing off with respect to the inner space and the vapor steam extraction system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Johan Flegler, Thomas Helmis, Norbert Surken
  • Sugar ester peracid on site generator and formulator
    Patent number: 9883672
    Abstract: Methods and systems for on-site generation of peracid chemistry, namely peroxycarboxylic acids and peroxycarboxylic acid forming compositions, are disclosed. In particular, an adjustable biocide formulator or generator system is designed for on-site generation of peroxycarboxylic acids and peroxycarboxylic acid forming compositions from sugar esters. Methods of using the in situ generated peroxycarboxylic acids and peroxycarboxylic acid forming compositions are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: ECOLAB USA INC.
    Inventors: Paul R. Kraus, Richard J. Mehus, Katherine M. Sanville, Thomas C. Rustad
  • Pyrazolyl-ureas as kinase inhibitors
    Patent number: 9884845
    Abstract: There are provided compounds of formula (I) as defined in the specification, which are p38 MAP kinase inhibitors for use as medicaments for the treatment inter alia of inflammatory diseases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Respivert Limited
    Inventors: Alistair Ian Longshaw, Euan Alexander Fraser Fordyce, Stuart Thomas Onions, John King-Underwood, Jennifer Diane Venable, Iain Walters
  • Determining compatibility of components for assembling approved personal protection configurations
    Patent number: 9886608
    Abstract: This disclosure relates generally to methods and systems for determining whether at least a first component and a second component of a personal protection (PP) configuration are compatible so as to be assembled into an approved PP configuration, responsive to being compared against at least one predetermined criterion. Included is a smart tag for each of the first and second components. The first and second smart tags include respective first and second data. A data acquiring system is provided for acquiring the first and second data and a data processing system processes the acquired first and second data for determining if the first and second components are compatible to be assembled as an approved PP configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Krepel, Brian S. McGinley, Neal A. Rakow, Paul A. Sevcik, Cristina U. Thomas
  • Hydraulic training system and method
    Patent number: 9886872
    Abstract: A hydraulic training system includes a cart, with a fluid reservoir, a motor, a first pump and a second pump situated on the cart. The first and second pumps are in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir and are operatively connected to be driven by the motor. A drivable wheel is rotatably attached to the cart and is selectively connectable to the first pump to drive the wheel. A steering system is selectively connectable to the second pump and arranged to steer a steerable wheel extending from the top of a first planar surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: EATON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Thomas Evans Blansett, Rodney Bruce Erickson
  • Milling burr
    Patent number: 9884376
    Abstract: A milling burr for use in handheld machines has a shank and a cutting member of hard metal which is rigidly connected to said shank. The cutting member is provided with cutting teeth which extend in a first direction of twist. The cutting teeth are divided in cutting tooth portions by rows of tooth dividers extending in a second direction of twist. The cutting tooth portions and the tooth dividers are arranged one behind the other when seen in the peripheral direction in such a way that an overlap occurs in an in each case alternating manner when seen in the peripheral direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: AUGUST RÜGGEBERG GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Nicolas Huth, Hans-Jürgen Zimmer, Thomas Plömacher
  • Hemodialysis system with cassette-based blood and dialysate pumping
    Patent number: 9884144
    Abstract: A hemodialysis system includes: (i) a dialyzer; (ii) a dialysate source; a dialysate pump; (iii) a dialysate cassette operatively connected to the dialysate pump such that the dialysate pump can pump dialysate through the dialysate cassette when the dialysate cassette is in fluid communication with the dialysate source, the dialysate cassette in fluid communication with the dialyzer; (iv) a blood pump; and (v) a blood cassette separate from the dialysate cassette, the blood cassette operatively connected to the blood pump such that the blood pump can pump blood through the blood cassette, the blood cassette including a housing, the housing including a from-patient tube connector, a to-patient tube connector, a saline/priming tube connnector, a to-dialyzer tube connector, a from-dialyzer tube connector, and an internal air separation chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignees: Baxter International Inc., Baxter Healthcare SA
    Inventors: Ying-Cheng Lo, Robert W. Childers, Thomas D. Kelly, Justin Rohde
  • Method for producing low porosity nonoxide ceramics
    Patent number: 9884788
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing ultra-high melting point nonoxide ceramics with low porosity based on sintering at low temperatures of below about 1000° C. with low DC electric fields of less than about 100 V/cm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignees: RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY, OFFICE OF NAVAL RESEARCH
    Inventors: Thomas Tsakalakos, Enver K. Akdogan, Ilyas Savkliyildiz, Hulya Bicer, Lawrence Kabacoff, Bart Visser, William Paxton
  • Gas turbine engine nacelle
    Patent number: 9885285
    Abstract: A nacelle for a turbofan gas turbine engine is provided. An inner wall of the nacelle defines an air intake which directs air into the fan section of the engine. The intake has, in flow series, an intake lip, a throat and a diffuser. The diffuser has, in flow series, first and second flow conditioning sections over both of which the flow cross-sectional area of the diffuser increases with increasing downstream distance from the throat. In addition, over the second section the nacelle inner wall lies substantially on a surface of an oblique circular cone having an apex which is offset from the centerline of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Christopher Alan Mosley, Angus Roy Smith, Christopher Thomas John Sheaf, John Richard Wells
  • Turbojet comprising a bleeding system for bleeding air in said turbojet
    Patent number: 9885284
    Abstract: A turbojet comprising a high-pressure compressor with several compression stages in which the pressure rises in a direction of air flow, from a low pressure to a high pressure, passing through intermediate pressures, and a system to bleed air in the turbojet and deliver the air to an air system. The bleeding system comprises a first air intake to bleed air at low pressure, a second air intake to bleed air at an intermediate pressure, a first valve and a second valve having inlets connected to the first air intake, a compressor having an inlet connected to the second valve outlet, a high-pressure valve connected to the second air intake, and a control valve connected to the air system, and a controller to control the opening and closing of the valves depending on the pressures at the first and second air intakes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Airbus Operations (SAS)
    Inventors: Olivier Pelagatti, Thomas Deguin, Ronan Bodet
  • Inquiry-based adaptive prediction
    Patent number: 9887935
    Abstract: Predicting future utilization of a resource. The predicting future utilization of a resource may include receiving inquiries for a potential future utilization of the resource for different future points in time, recording time-based patterns of the received inquiries, recording a historic actual utilization value of the resource, and determining a future utilization of the resource using the recorded time-based patterns of the received inquiries, the recorded historic actual utilization value of the resource and a current inquiry pattern of the resource.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Petra Sabine Buehrer, Thomas H. Gnech, Joachim Rese, Holger J. Scheller
  • Printed battery array outputting selectable voltage and current
    Patent number: 9887425
    Abstract: A plurality of batteries is printed on a flexible substrate, where each battery may output the same voltage, such as about 1.5 volts. Batteries in a first subset are connectable in parallel by controllable switches to control the maximum current that can be delivered to a load. Batteries in a second subset are also connectable in parallel by additional controllable switches to control the maximum current that can be delivered to the load. Another group of switches can either connect the two subsets of batteries in series, to generate 3 volts, or connect the subsets in parallel to increase the maximum current. Additional subsets of batteries and their associated switches may be further connected to increase the voltage and current. The power supply may be standardized and configured by the user for a particular load, such as a sensor for a medical skin patch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Printed Energy Pty. Ltd.
    Inventors: Richard Austin Blanchard, William Johnstone Ray, Mark David Lowenthal, Thomas Frederick Soules, Vera Lockett
  • Landscaping block
    Patent number: D809673
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: KEYSTONE RETAINING WALL SYSTEMS LLC
    Inventors: Robert John Lundell, Thomas S. Riccobene