Patents by Inventor Alan Drake

Alan Drake 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).

  • Publication number: 20150174394
    Abstract: A medical apparatus includes a guidewire and a fixator catheter. The fixator catheter comprises a tubular body with a distal portion and a proximal portion, and further includes a distal opening, a fixator secured to the distal portion, and a body opening arranged between the fixator and the proximal portion. The guidewire passes through the body opening and the distal opening of the fixator catheter. The fixator is movable between a compact configuration and an expanded configuration and, in the expanded condition, is capable of anchoring the guidewire and fixator catheter in a lumen of a blood vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2014
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Inventors: Ronald Alan Drake, Lindsey Marie Tobin, Stanten C. Spear, Scott William Hayden, Andrea Jean Asleson, Steven Lawrence Waldhauser, Kendra Yasger
  • Publication number: 20150122901
    Abstract: In at least some embodiments, an air handler includes a coil and a fan. The air handler also includes an auxiliary heat source having a plurality of heat elements. The auxiliary heat source implements a wear-leveling algorithm to cycle use of the heat elements over multiple auxiliary heat cycles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2015
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Dean Alan Drake, Daniel John Blair
  • Patent number: 8967490
    Abstract: In at least some embodiments, an air handler includes a coil and a fan. The air handler also includes an auxiliary heat source having a plurality of heat elements. The auxiliary heat source implements a wear-leveling algorithm to cycle use of the heat elements over multiple auxiliary heat cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Trane International Inc.
    Inventors: Dean Alan Drake, Daniel John Blair
  • Patent number: 8920432
    Abstract: A medical apparatus includes a guidewire and a fixator catheter. The fixator catheter comprises a tubular body with a distal portion and a proximal portion, and further includes a distal opening, a fixator secured to the distal portion, and a body opening arranged between the fixator and the proximal portion. The guidewire passes through the body opening and the distal opening of the fixator catheter. The fixator is movable between a compact configuration and an expanded configuration and, in the expanded condition, is capable of anchoring the guidewire and fixator catheter in a lumen of a blood vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald Alan Drake, Lindsey Marie Tobin, Stanten C. Spear, Scott William Hayden, Andrea Jean Asleson, Steven Lawrence Waldhauser, Kendra Yasger
  • Publication number: 20140167832
    Abstract: Described is an integrated circuit having a clock distribution network capable of transitioning from a non-resonant clock mode to a first resonant clock mode Transitions between clock modes or between various resonant clock frequencies are done gradually over a series of clock cycles. In example, when transitioning from a non-resonant clock mode to a first resonant clock mode, a strength of a clock sector driver is reduced over a series of clock cycles, and individual ones of a plurality of resonant switches associated with resonant circuits are modified in coordination with reducing the strength of the clock sector driver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Thomas J. Bucelot, Alan Drake, Joshua D. Friedrich, Jason D. Hibbeler, Liang-Teck Pang, William R. Reohr, Phillip John Restle, Gregory S. Still, Michael G.R. Thomson
  • Publication number: 20140149760
    Abstract: A distributed power management computer program product is configured to collect power consumption data that indicates power consumption by at least a plurality of the components of a node. The program code can be configured to provide, to each of a plurality of controllers associated with a respective one of the plurality of components, the power consumption data. The program code can be configured to determine a node power consumption. The program code can be configured to determine a power differential as a difference between the node power consumption and an upper power consumption threshold of the node. The program code can be configured to determine a proportion of the node power consumption consumed by a first component. The program code can be configured to compute a local power budget for the first component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2012
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Alan Drake, Guillermo J. Silva, Timothy G. Hallett, Heather L. Hanson, Jordan Keuseman, Charles R. Lefurgy, Karthick Rajamani, Todd J. Rosedahl, Malcolm S. Allen-Ware
  • Patent number: 8736342
    Abstract: Described is an integrated circuit having a clock distribution network capable of transitioning from a non-resonant clock mode to a first resonant clock mode Transitions between clock modes or between various resonant clock frequencies are done gradually over a series of clock cycles. In example, when transitioning from a non-resonant clock mode to a first resonant clock mode, a strength of a clock sector driver is reduced over a series of clock cycles, and individual ones of a plurality of resonant switches associated with resonant circuits are modified in coordination with reducing the strength of the clock sector driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas J. Bucelot, Alan Drake, Joshua D. Friedrich, Jason D. Hibbeler, Liang-Teck Pang, William R. Reohr, Phillip John Restle, Gregory S. Still, Michael G. R. Thomson
  • Publication number: 20120192577
    Abstract: In at least some embodiments, an air handler includes a coil and a fan. The air handler also includes an auxiliary heat source having a plurality of heat elements. The auxiliary heat source implements a wear-leveling algorithm to cycle use of the heat elements over multiple auxiliary heat cycles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Dean Alan Drake, Daniel John Blair
  • Publication number: 20110270170
    Abstract: A steerable elongated medical device that is capable of forming as ā€œsā€ shaped bend. The devices include an outer tube extending between an outer tube proximal segment and an outer tube distal segment, having an outer tube wall forming an outer tube lumen and first and second elongated outer tube slots through the outer tube wall to the outer tube lumen. The first elongated outer tube slot has a first portion and a second portion and formed between a first outer tube slot proximal end and a first outer tube slot distal end and extending axially along the outer tube distal segment through a first outer tube slot length to define a first cutaway portion of the outer tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Applicant: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth C. Gardeski, Ronald Alan Drake
  • Publication number: 20090326630
    Abstract: A medical apparatus includes an electrically conductive lead for a medical device, the lead having an internal bore terminating at a distal lead opening, and a lead delivery device for delivering the distal end of the lead to a blood vessel during implantation of the lead. The lead delivery device includes a removably anchorable guidewire, and a fixator attached to a distal portion of the guidewire for anchoring the guidewire. The fixator is movable between a compact configuration and an expanded configuration. The fixator is capable of passing through the distal lead opening of the lead in the compact configuration. The fixator is capable of exerting a holding force in the range of about 0.89 to 4.45 N in the lumen of the blood vessel in the expanded configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Inventors: Lindsey Marie Tobin, Andrea Jean Asleson, Steven Lawrence Waldhauser, Scott William Hayden, Kendra Yasger, Ronald Alan Drake
  • Publication number: 20090326550
    Abstract: A medical apparatus includes a guidewire and a fixator catheter. The fixator catheter comprises a tubular body with a distal portion and a proximal portion, and further includes a distal opening, a fixator secured to the distal portion, and a body opening arranged between the fixator and the proximal portion. The guidewire passes through the body opening and the distal opening of the fixator catheter. The fixator is movable between a compact configuration and an expanded configuration and, in the expanded condition, is capable of anchoring the guidewire and fixator catheter in a lumen of a blood vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: MEDTRONIC, INC.
    Inventors: Ronald Alan Drake, Lindsey Marie Tobin, Stanten C. Spear, Scott William Hayden, Andrea Jean Asleson, Steven Lawrence Waldhauser, Kendra Yasger
  • Publication number: 20090326629
    Abstract: A medical apparatus includes a guidewire and a fixator catheter. The fixator catheter comprises a tubular body with a distal portion and a proximal portion, and further includes a distal opening, a fixator secured to the distal portion, and a body opening arranged between the fixator and the proximal portion. The guidewire passes through the body opening and the distal opening of the fixator catheter. The fixator is movable between a compact configuration and an expanded configuration and, in the expanded condition, is capable of anchoring the guidewire and fixator catheter in a lumen of a blood vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Inventors: Ronald Alan Drake, Stanten C. Spear, Gary Fiedler, Patrick Senarith, Lindsey Marie Tobin
  • Publication number: 20090326551
    Abstract: A medical apparatus includes a guidewire and a fixator catheter. The fixator catheter comprises a tubular body with a distal portion and a proximal portion, and further includes a distal opening, a fixator secured to the distal portion, and a body opening arranged between the fixator and the proximal portion. The guidewire passes through the body opening and the distal opening of the fixator catheter. The fixator is movable between a compact configuration and an expanded configuration and, in the expanded condition, is capable of anchoring the guidewire and fixator catheter in a lumen of a blood vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: MEDTRONIC, INC.
    Inventors: Ronald Alan Drake, Lindsey Marie Tobin, Stanten C. Spear, Scott William Hayden, Andrea Jean Asleson, Steven Lawrence Waldhauser, Kendra Yasger
  • Patent number: 7328571
    Abstract: In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, an aircraft having a scramjet engine is provided. The scramjet engine includes a flowpath which varies in three dimensions. In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, a method for launching an aircraft having a scramjet engine with a nozzle section and a solid rocket booster positioned within the nozzle section is provided. The method includes the steps of igniting the solid rocket booster to accelerate the aircraft to a speed at which the scramjet engine can operate, clearing the nozzle section by ejecting the solid rocket booster from the nozzle section upon exhaustion of the solid rocket booster; and injecting fuel into a flow of air passing through the scramjet engine and igniting the fuel and the air to provide thrust to the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Alan Drake, Daniel Guinan
  • Publication number: 20080024233
    Abstract: An inverting circuit comprises a first inverter in a main path having a first input and a common ouput. A second inverter receives the first input and is coupled with a first voltage controlled pass gate to the common output. A third inverter couples a second input to the common output using a second voltage controlled pass gate. A fourth inverter couples the second input to the common output using the first voltage controlled pass gate. A ring oscillator is formed using a number N of the inverting circuits with each common output coupled to the first inputs forming a main ring of a ring oscillator. The second inputs are coupled to feed-forward signals from selected outputs. The resulting signals at the common outputs are an interpolation of the first and second input signals modulated by a control voltage coupled to the first and second pass gates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2007
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Alan Drake, Fadi Gebara, Jeremy Schaub
  • Publication number: 20070168786
    Abstract: A scanned value is stored by loading the value into at least three latch stages, generating an output value based on a majority of the latch stage outputs, and feeding the output value back to the inputs of the latch stages to reload the latch stages with the latch circuit output value. Refreshing of the latch stages in this manner repairs any upset latch stage and restores the latch circuit to its original scanned state. The latch circuit may be repeatedly refreshed, preferably on a periodic basis, to prevent failures arising from multiple upsets. The feedback path may include a front-end multiplexer which receives the scan-in line and the output of the majority gate. Control logic selects the output value from the majority gate to pass to the latch stages during the refresh phase. The latch stages may be arranged in a master-slave configuration with a check stage at the slave level. The method is particularly suited for self-correcting scan latches of a microprocessor control system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2005
    Publication date: July 19, 2007
    Inventors: Alan Drake, Aj Osowski, Andrew Martin
  • Publication number: 20070028157
    Abstract: A latch circuit having three latch stages generates a majority output value from the stages, senses when the latch stage outputs are not all equal, and feeds the majority output value back to inputs of the latch stages to reload the latch stages. The latch circuit uses a not-equal gate whose output is an error signal that can be monitored to determine when a single-event upset has occurred. A master stage is controlled by a first multiplexer which receives one system clock signal, while a slave stage is controlled by a second multiplexer which receives another system clock signal, and the latch stage outputs are connected to respective inputs of the not-equal gate, whose output is connected to second inputs of the multiplexers. The latch circuit is part of a latch control system, and reloading of the latch stages takes less than one cycle of the system clock (less than 500 picoseconds).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2005
    Publication date: February 1, 2007
    Inventors: Alan Drake, Aj KleinOsowski, Andrew Martin
  • Publication number: 20070018737
    Abstract: An inverting circuit comprises a first inverter in a main path having a first input and a common ouput. A second inverter receives the first input and is coupled with a first voltage controlled pass gate to the common output. A third inverter couples a second input to the common output using a second voltage controlled pass gate. A fourth inverter couples the second input to the common output using the first voltage controlled pass gate. A ring oscillator is formed using a number N of the inverting circuits with each common output coupled to the first inputs forming a main ring of a ring oscillator. The second inputs are coupled to feed-forward signals from selected outputs. The resulting signals at the common outputs are an interpolation of the first and second input signals modulated by a control voltage coupled to the first and second pass gates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2005
    Publication date: January 25, 2007
    Inventors: Alan Drake, Fadi Gebara, Jeremy Schaub
  • Publication number: 20060112674
    Abstract: In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, an aircraft having a scramjet engine is provided. The scramjet engine includes a flowpath which varies in three dimensions. In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, a method for launching an aircraft having a scramjet engine with a nozzle section and a solid rocket booster positioned within the nozzle section is provided. The method includes the steps of igniting the solid rocket booster to accelerate the aircraft to a speed at which the scramjet engine can operate, clearing the nozzle section by ejecting the solid rocket booster from the nozzle section upon exhaustion of the solid rocket booster; and injecting fuel into a flow of air passing through the scramjet engine and igniting the fuel and the air to provide thrust to the aircraft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2004
    Publication date: June 1, 2006
    Inventors: Alan Drake, Daniel Guinan
  • Publication number: 20060103441
    Abstract: A circuit and method of correcting the duty cycle of digital signals is disclosed. The duty cycle of an input digital signal is measured and compared to a desired duty cycle. The leading edge of the input digital signal is passed to an output. The circuit and method adjust the falling edges at the output to achieve the desired duty cycle. The falling edges occur in response to rising edges of a delayed version of the input digital signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Publication date: May 18, 2006
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Gary Carpenter, Alan Drake, Fadi Gebara, Chandler McDowell, Hung Ngo