Patents by Inventor Alexander C. Johnson

Alexander C. Johnson 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: 9620803
    Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell has a reinforced membrane-electrode assembly. The solid oxide fuel cell includes a first electrode layer, a second electrode layer, and an electrolyte membrane disposed between the first and second electrode layers. The solid oxide fuel cell further includes a gas-permeable structure adjacent to one or both of the electrode layers, for mechanical stabilization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE
    Inventors: Shriram Ramanathan, Alexander C. Johnson
  • Patent number: 9251257
    Abstract: A digital file may be stored on a storage device and deleted upon reading of the file. In one example, at least a portion of the stored file may be read, such as by a processor. In response to the reading of the stored file, at least part of the at least a portion of the stored file that has been read may be deleted. In further examples, the at least part of the at least a portion of the stored file may be deleted progressively while the stored file is being read, after a triggering event, or after a delay in time. According to another example, a user may provide an indication representative of the at least part of the at least a portion of the stored file that is to be deleted after the at least a portion of the stored file is read.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander C Johnson, Badari Pulavarty
  • Publication number: 20150188176
    Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell has a reinforced membrane-electrode assembly. The solid oxide fuel cell includes a first electrode layer, a second electrode layer, and an electrolyte membrane disposed between the first and second electrode layers. The solid oxide fuel cell further includes a gas-permeable structure adjacent to one or both of the electrode layers, for mechanical stabilization.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Publication date: July 2, 2015
    Applicant: PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE
    Inventors: Shriram RAMANATHAN, Alexander C. JOHNSON
  • Patent number: 8815466
    Abstract: In various aspects, provided are solid oxide fuel cells with an operational temperature of less than about 500° C. that can provide, in various embodiments, a power density of greater than about 0.1 W/cm2 and/or have an ionic conductivity of greater than about 0.00001 ohm?1 cm?1. In various embodiments, provided are solid oxide fuel cells comprising a solid oxide electrolyte layer that is both an electronic and ionic conductor. In various aspects, provided are methods of making solid oxide fuel cells. In various aspects, provided are solid oxide materials comprising a polycrystalline ceramic layer less than about 100 nm thick having a ionic conductivity of greater than about 0.00001 ohm?1 cm?1 at a temperature less than about 500° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: President and Fellows of Harvard College
    Inventors: Shriram Ramanathan, Alexander C. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20130256122
    Abstract: A system includes an electrochemically functional membrane, and a support structure constructed and arranged so as to support the membrane while leaving within the membrane a chemically active area having an area utilization of at least about 50%. In some embodiments, the support structure may include a plurality of grids that are sized and shaped so that the contact area between the grids and the membrane is reduced to less than about 40%. In some embodiments, the support structure may include aerogels, for example PVA-reinforced CNT aerogels having a conductivity that is increased by pyrolysis. The system may be a gas separation system; a gas production system; a gas purification system; or an energy generation system such as an SOFC.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE
    Inventors: Shriram Ramanathan, Daniel V. Harburg, Masaru Tsuchiya, Alexander C. Johnson
  • Patent number: 8305632
    Abstract: A Method of batch processing a group of hardcopy documents scans a stack of documents. Each document in the stack has a cover sheet is placed thereon. The method performs optical character recognition on each of the cover sheets in the stack. The method performs an operation on each of the documents in the stack in accordance with instructions on the cover sheet on each document. Examples of operations that may be performed include printing the document, sending the document by fax to a recipient, sending an image file of the document by email to a recipient, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander C. Johnson, Scott W. Nelson, Hal A. Porter, Joshua R. Poulson
  • Publication number: 20120102004
    Abstract: A digital file may be stored on a storage device and deleted upon reading of the file. In one example, at least a portion of the stored file may be read, such as by a processor. In response to the reading of the stored file, at least part of the at least a portion of the stored file that has been read may be deleted. In further examples, the at least part of the at least a portion of the stored file may be deleted progressively while the stored file is being read, after a triggering event, or after a delay in time. According to another example, a user may provide an indication representative of the at least part of the at least a portion of the stored file that is to be deleted after the at least a portion of the stored file is read.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Alexander C. Johnson, Badari Pulavarty
  • Publication number: 20120009504
    Abstract: A method comprises creating an electrode by depositing alternating first and second layers on a substrate, and using the electrode to make a solid oxide fuel cell. The first layer comprises a metal, and the second layer comprises a non-metal, for example a ceramic material. The substrate may be moved between a first region containing the metal and substantially free of the non-metal, and a second region containing the non-metal and substantially free of the metal. The composition of the metal and/or the non-metal may be varied along the thickness of the layers. The deposited layers may be heated. A fuel cell may have a fuel cell electrode that comprises a substrate, and alternating first and second layers deposited on the substrate, where the first layer includes a metal and the second layer includes a non-metal. The fuel cell may be a solid oxide fuel cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2010
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Applicant: PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE
    Inventors: Shriram Ramanathan, Alexander C. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20090087697
    Abstract: In various aspects, provided are solid oxide fuel cells with an operational temperature of less than about 500° C. that can provide, in various embodiments, a power density of greater than about 0. 1 W/cm2 and/or have an ionic conductivity of greater than about 0.00001 ohm?1 cm?1. In various embodiments, provided are solid oxide fuel cells comprising a solid oxide electrolyte layer that is both an electronic and ionic conductor. In various aspects, provided are methods of making solid oxide fuel cells. In various aspects, provided are solid oxide materials comprising a polycrystalline ceramic layer less than about 100 nm thick having a ionic conductivity of greater than about 0.00001 ohm?1 cm?1 at a temperature less than about 500° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Applicant: PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE
    Inventors: Shriram Ramanathan, Alexander C. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20080318557
    Abstract: A transmitting device wirelessly broadcasts a time signal over a general purpose wireless network. A receiving device wirelessly receives the time signal without having established a connection with the transmitting device. The receiving device sets a lock thereof based on the time signal. The general purpose wireless network can be an 802.11a, an 802.11b, an 802.11g, an 802.11n, and/or a Bluetooth wireless network over which the transmitting device communicates with devices, other than the receiving device that are connected to the transmitting device. The general purpose wireless network can further be a mobile phone network over which the transmitting device communicates with devices, other than the receiving device, that are connected to the transmitting device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2007
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Inventors: Joshua R. Poulson, Alexander C. Johnson, Scott W. Nelson, Hal A. Porter
  • Publication number: 20080309988
    Abstract: A Method of batch processing a group of hardcopy documents scans a stack of documents. Each document in the stack has a cover sheet is placed thereon. The method performs optical character recognition on each of the cover sheets in the stack. The method performs an operation on each of the documents in the stack in accordance with instructions on the cover sheet on each document. Examples of operations that may be performed include printing the document, sending the document by fax to a recipient, sending an image file of the document by email to a recipient, and the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2007
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Inventors: ALEXANDER C. JOHNSON, Scott W. Nelson, Hal A. Porter, Joshua R. Poulson
  • Patent number: 7466217
    Abstract: A system for signaling that a person is in an vehicle is provided and includes a power source, a processing unit including a counter, a state monitoring unit configured to monitor an internal temperature of the vehicle and to monitor whether the vehicle is in an off state and a door monitoring unit configured to monitor whether any of the vehicle doors are open or closed, a first buckle receiver, including a first signal issuing unit, a first buckle to be removably inserted into the buckle receiver and to thereby cause the first signal issuing unit to issue an installation signal to the processing unit, a second buckle receiver, including a second signal issuing unit, a second buckle to be removably inserted into the second buckle receiver and to thereby cause the second signal issuing unit to issue an occupation signal to the processing unit, and an alarm unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander C. Johnson, Scott W. Nelson, Hal A. Porter, Joshua R. Paulson
  • Publication number: 20080284429
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to compositions, systems and methods for inducing nuclear hyperpolarization in imaging agents after they have been introduced into a subject.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2006
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Applicant: The President and Fellows of Harvard College
    Inventors: Charles M. Marcus, Jacob W. Aptekar, Alexander C. Johnson, Ronald L. Walsworth
  • Publication number: 20080054066
    Abstract: At a point-of-sale terminal, a rewards program identifier of a customer is associated with a transaction described by detailed transaction data. The detailed transaction data are recorded at a point-of-sale server such that the detailed transaction data is associated with the customer. The detailed transaction data are also communicated from the point-of-sale server to a data processing system of the customer over a network and imported into a financial software application executing on the data processing system of the customer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2006
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Inventors: Alexander C. Johnson, Scott W. Nelson, Hal A. Porter, Joshua R. Poulson
  • Patent number: 5969932
    Abstract: A power surge protection assembly for use in electrical panel boxes having multiple electrical components. The power surge protection assembly includes a bus bar connected to a power supply, typically ground. The power surge protection assembly additionally includes a suppression box having a top surface, a bottom surface, sides, and ends for encasing a power surge suppression circuit. A conductor extends outward from an end of the suppression box. A coupler is attached to the bus bar for receiving the conductor and mechanically coupling the suppression box to the bus bar and electrically coupling the suppression box to the power supply. A variety of conductors and couplers are disclosed including post, bar, and plug conductors and snap ring, clip, jack, and bore couplers. The power surge protection assembly is particularly adapted for stacking two or more surge suppression boxes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: A.C. Data Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Barry D. Ryan, Norm Janshen, Brad Herr, Mark Scuitti, Jim Wilson, Alexander C. Johnson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5966282
    Abstract: A power surge protection assembly for use in electrical panel boxes having multiple electrical components. The power surge protection assembly includes a bus bar connected to a power supply, typically ground. The power surge protection assembly additionally includes a suppression box having a top surface, a bottom surface, sides, and ends for encasing a power surge suppression circuit. A conductor extends outward from an end of the suppression box. A coupler is attached to the bus bar for receiving the conductor and mechanically coupling the suppression box to the bus bar and electrically coupling the suppression box to the power supply. A variety of conductors and couplers are disclosed including post, bar, and plug conductors and snap ring, clip, jack, and bore couplers. The power surge protection assembly is particularly adapted for stacking two or more surge suppression boxes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: A. C. Data Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Barry D. Ryan, Norm Janshen, Brad Herr, Mark Scuitti, Jim Wilson, Alexander C. Johnson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5304111
    Abstract: A flexible planar magnetic sheet for therapeutic use has a regular repeating pattern of curved first and second areas of alternating magnetic polarity arranged so that a line traverses a plurality of said curved areas in a majority of possible orientations of the line along the surface plane of the sheet with respect to the pattern. In one embodiment, the pattern comprises an array of polka dot regions of one polarity uniformly sized and spaced on a background of opposite polarity. Alternatively, the pattern can be shaped as a series of interdigitated undulating first and second areas of alternating magnetic polarity. The areas each have curved boundaries defined by wavy lines and a width which varies between a maximum and a minimum proceeding generally lengthwise along the wavy lines of a lengthwise periodicity to define lobe-shaped portions of each area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1994
    Assignee: Nikken, Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Mitsuno, Alexander C. Johnson, Jr.