Patents by Inventor Alan Norton

Alan Norton 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: 12227926
    Abstract: Examples provide an apparatus having a first accumulator that water received from a first supply line. A first conduit connects to the first accumulator and provides a second supply line from the first accumulator to a fixture. The second accumulator receives drainage water from the fixture. The second conduit connects to the second accumulator and includes a drainage line that directs the drainage water away from the second accumulator. A pump associated with the second accumulator assists with moving the drainage water out of the second accumulator through the drainage line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventors: Michael John Thomas, Alan Norton, Gabriel Massa
  • Publication number: 20230151591
    Abstract: Examples provide an apparatus having a first accumulator that water received from a first supply line. A first conduit connects to the first accumulator and provides a second supply line from the first accumulator to a fixture. The second accumulator receives drainage water from the fixture. The second conduit connects to the second accumulator and includes a drainage line that directs the drainage water away from the second accumulator. A pump associated with the second accumulator assists with moving the drainage water out of the second accumulator through the drainage line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2023
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Inventors: Michael John Thomas, Alan Norton, Gabriel Massa
  • Patent number: 11619032
    Abstract: Examples provide a configurable, modular manifold system for distributing water. The manifold receives water via a first supply line dropped vertically down from a ceiling structure. The first supply line is connected to a water source, such as a water tank or pre-existing water line without demolition. The water may be heated or filtered and then supplied to a fixture or other device via a perpendicular second supply line. Drainage from the fixture is received via a drainage line. The drainage accumulates in an accumulator tank. The drainage water is pumped out via a second vertical drainage line carrying the drainage water away. The second line eventually connects to a pre-existing sewage line or septic system for treatment. The manifold may be moved or relocated easily to provide water to fixtures or other devices modularly without alteration of fixtures or access demolition to existing structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventors: Michael John Thomas, Alan Norton, Gabriel Massa
  • Patent number: 11470432
    Abstract: A vehicle cabin simulator module provides flexible reconfiguration of transducer locations for evaluating acoustic performance in a vehicle design at a prototyping stage. A frame lattice defines a plurality of cavities around an interior space. A plurality of transducer assemblies are mounted in selected ones of the cavities, each assembly having a faceplate mounting a transducer for acoustic coupling with the interior space. Blank panels are mounted in other selected cavities to shutter the respective cavities. A covering liner is applied to an inner side of the frame lattice. Wiring is provided to interconnect the transducers with a signal processor. The frame lattice further defines a door section radially movable for enclosing the interior space at a closed position and for providing ingress and egress to the interior space at an open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Alan Norton, Chacko Abraham, Olivia S. Pan
  • Publication number: 20220064915
    Abstract: Examples provide a configurable, modular manifold system for distributing water. The manifold receives water via a first supply line dropped vertically down from a ceiling structure. The first supply line is connected to a water source, such as a water tank or pre-existing water line without demolition. The water may be heated or filtered and then supplied to a fixture or other device via a perpendicular second supply line. Drainage from the fixture is received via a drainage line. The drainage accumulates in an accumulator tank. The drainage water is pumped out via a second vertical drainage line carrying the drainage water away. The second line eventually connects to a pre-existing sewage line or septic system for treatment. The manifold may be moved or relocated easily to provide water to fixtures or other devices modularly without alteration of fixtures or access demolition to existing structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Inventors: Michael John Thomas, Alan Norton, Gabriel Massa
  • Patent number: 11202149
    Abstract: A computer, including a processor and a memory, the memory including instructions to be executed by the processor to determine a first root-mean-square signal level of an audio data stream with a first delay, apply a bass shelf filter to the audio data stream based on the first root-mean-square signal level and an audio volume level, determine a second root-mean-square signal level of an audio data stream with a second delay and apply a treble shelf filter to the audio data stream based on the second root-mean-square signal level and the audio volume level. The instructions include further instructions to output the audio data stream to an audio amplifier and one or more speakers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Alan Norton
  • Publication number: 20200143705
    Abstract: A vehicle cabin simulator module provides flexible reconfiguration of transducer locations for evaluating acoustic performance in a vehicle design at a prototyping stage. A frame lattice defines a plurality of cavities around an interior space. A plurality of transducer assemblies are mounted in selected ones of the cavities, each assembly having a faceplate mounting a transducer for acoustic coupling with the interior space. Blank panels are mounted in other selected cavities to shutter the respective cavities. A covering liner is applied to an inner side of the frame lattice. Wiring is provided to interconnect the transducers with a signal processor. The frame lattice further defines a door section radially movable for enclosing the interior space at a closed position and for providing ingress and egress to the interior space at an open position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: Alan Norton, Chacko Abraham, Olivia S. Pan
  • Patent number: 10540985
    Abstract: An audio processor generates a vocal-free audio signal from an audio signal received from an audio source, directs a cross-fader to fade from the audio signal to the vocal-free audio signal responsive to occurrence of a trigger condition indicated by a status signal, and directs the cross-fader to fade from the vocal-free audio signal to the audio signal responsive to the trigger condition no longer being present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alan Norton, James Buczkowski
  • Patent number: 10462567
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for responding to HVAC-induced vehicle microphone buffeting. An example disclosed vehicle includes a microphone, a speaker, and a buffeting detector. The example microphone is electrically coupled to an input of a voice-activated system. The example speaker is located on a front driver side of the vehicle. The example buffeting detector, when a button is activated, determines a buffeting factor of a signal captured by the microphone. Additionally, the example buffeting detector, in response to the buffeting factor satisfying a threshold, activates a relay to electrically couple the speaker to the input of the voice-activated system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Scott Andrew Amman, Alan Norton, Joshua Wheeler, Gintaras Vincent Puskorius, Ranjani Rangarajan
  • Publication number: 20190237092
    Abstract: An audio processor generates a vocal-free audio signal from an audio signal received from an audio source, directs a cross-fader to fade from the audio signal to the vocal-free audio signal responsive to occurrence of a trigger condition indicated by a status signal, and directs the cross-fader to fade from the vocal-free audio signal to the audio signal responsive to the trigger condition no longer being present.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Inventors: Alan Norton, James Buczkowski
  • Patent number: 10343602
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a plurality of sensors including exterior sensors. Vehicle signals, such as those derived from sensors, are processed to detect alertable conditions and each alertable condition is represented by a created software object. A location is associated with each software object, such as corresponding to a location of an exterior feature that gave rise to the alertable condition. The software object is updated over time according to the vehicle signals, such as by updating the location according to movement of the obstacle. The software objects are processed to drive an array of speakers effective to simulate a sound originating from the location associated with the software object. The sound generated by the speakers may be repeated chimes having a volume and period determined according to the location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Alexander Groh, Alan Norton, Casey Bryan Feldman, Prabhanjan Kadepurkar
  • Publication number: 20180186286
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a plurality of sensors including exterior sensors. Vehicle signals, such as those derived from sensors, are processed to detect alertable conditions and each alertable condition is represented by a created software object. A location is associated with each software object, such as corresponding to a location of an exterior feature that gave rise to the alertable condition. The software object is updated over time according to the vehicle signals, such as by updating the location according to movement of the obstacle. The software objects are processed to drive an array of speakers effective to simulate a sound originating from the location associated with the software object. The sound generated by the speakers may be repeated chimes having a volume and period determined according to the location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2017
    Publication date: July 5, 2018
    Inventors: Alexander Groh, Alan Norton, Casey Bryan Feldman, Prabhanjan Kadepurkar
  • Publication number: 20180103318
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for responding to HVAC-induced vehicle microphone buffeting. An example disclosed vehicle includes a microphone, a speaker, and a buffeting detector. The example microphone is electrically coupled to an input of a voice-activated system. The example speaker is located on a front driver side of the vehicle. The example buffeting detector, when a button is activated, determines a buffeting factor of a signal captured by the microphone. Additionally, the example buffeting detector, in response to the buffeting factor satisfying a threshold, activates a relay to electrically couple the speaker to the input of the voice-activated system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2016
    Publication date: April 12, 2018
    Inventors: Scott Andrew Amman, Alan Norton, Joshua Wheeler, Gintaras Vincent Puskorius, Ranjani Rangarajan
  • Patent number: 9896031
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a plurality of sensors including exterior sensors. Vehicle signals, such as those derived from sensors, are processed to detect alertable conditions and each alertable condition is represented by a created software object. A location is associated with each software object, such as corresponding to a location of an exterior feature that gave rise to the alertable condition. The software object is updated over time according to the vehicle signals, such as by updating the location according to movement of the obstacle. The software objects are processed to drive an array of speakers effective to simulate a sound originating from the location associated with the software object. The sound generated by the speakers may be repeated chimes having a volume and period determined according to the location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Alexander Groh, Alan Norton, Casey Bryan Feldman, Prabhanjan Kadepurkar
  • Publication number: 20060035356
    Abstract: The invention discloses a method of introducing microorganisms into a heap of material for bio-assisted heap leaching by prepraring microorganisms substantially without exopolymers on their external cell walls; adding such microorganisms to the heap; and re-activating the production of exopolymers on the external cells walls of the microorganisms in the heap. The invention also extends to a method of enriching the environment of microorganisms' embedded in a heap for bio-assisted heap leaching.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2003
    Publication date: February 16, 2006
    Inventors: Frank Crundwell, Alan Norton
  • Publication number: 20050211019
    Abstract: The invention discloses a method of controlling a heap leach process through controlling an irrigation rate of a heap as a function of at least one of an aeration rate of the heap, a determination of advection at least at one predetermined point in the heap, and a determination of temperature at least at one predetermined point in the heap. Also disclosed is for the aeration to be forced and for the method to include the step of controlling the aeration rate as 10 a function of a determination of the oxidation rate of material within the heap. The invention also extends to a method for the introduction of microorganisms into the heap of material, a method for increasing the temperature of heap of material for heap leaching, a method of determining an optimum heap configuration for a bio-assisted heap leach process of an ore heap, and a method of enriching the environment of microorganisms embedded in a heap of material for bio-assisted heap leaching.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2003
    Publication date: September 29, 2005
    Inventors: Frank Crundwell, Alan Norton
  • Patent number: 6884280
    Abstract: A method of leaching sulphide mineral concentrates wherein heat generated by bioleaching of sulphide mineral concentrates in at least one reactor is transferred into a heap in which bio-assisted leaching takes place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Billiton SA Limited
    Inventors: John de Klerk Batty, Alan Norton
  • Patent number: 6860919
    Abstract: A method of recovering a precious metal from a sulphide mineral slurry which contains the precious metal which includes the steps of subjecting the slurry to a bioleaching process, supplying a feed gas which contains in excess of 21% oxygen by volume to the slurry, and recovering precious metal from a bioleach residue of the bioleaching process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: Billiton Intellectual Property, B.V.
    Inventors: Alan Norton, John de Klerk Batty, David William Dew, Petrus Basson
  • Patent number: 6733567
    Abstract: A method of recovering nickel from a nickel bearing sulphide mineral slurry which includes the steps of subjecting the slurry to a bioleaching process, supplying a feed gas which contains in excess of 21% oxygen by volume, to the slurry, and recovering nickel from a bioleach residue of the bioleaching process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Billiton Intellectual Property, B.V.
    Inventors: David William Dew, Petrus Basson, Alan Norton, Frank Crundwell
  • Patent number: D1019888
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventors: Michael John Thomas, Alan Norton, Gabriel Massa