Patents by Inventor Charles Merrill

Charles Merrill 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: 9743013
    Abstract: Networks of cameras and/or other sensors enable a sensor monitoring system or other computer system to control hiding devices used to enable the cameras and/or other sensors to evade danger by hiding or being disguised. Detection and/or determination of potential danger is garnered from data, from some of the cameras and/or sensors, that they or other of the cameras and/or sensors may be facing eminent danger of discovery, manipulation, alteration, deactivation, and/or damage. The hiding devices are caused to hide or disguise the sensors and/or cameras that appear to be in danger. Hiding or disguising can continue for at least a finite duration of time, or until indication of danger is gone. Some of the cameras and/or other sensors, and their associated hiding devices, can be turned off or made to sleep for periods of time until at least awaken by time-out events or by events indicating a need to do so.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: KONTEK INDUSTRIES, INC
    Inventors: Charles Merrill, Roger Allen Nolte, Barclay J. Tullis
  • Patent number: 9092962
    Abstract: Security systems may include sensing, networked communications, stealth, alarms, and countermeasures, any or all of which may adapt to threats. These systems may also include armor and barriers of concrete and/or steel. They can adapt to severity of threats, weather, and/or other situational aspects. They can anticipate at least some threats in order to obtain early warning and react more quickly to those threats. They can adapt by altering their configurations, including alterations in communication networking structures and methods, and changes in data-storage and processing duties at processing nodes. Defensive and/or offensive countermeasures can be employed to deter, confuse, trap, and/or disable terrorists. The systems are capable of self-maintenance, self-healing, and self-restoration as threats subside. The systems can include subsystems capable of autonomous operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: KONTEK INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Charles Merrill, Kevin Charles Kriegel, Roger Allen Nolte, Barclay J. Tullis
  • Patent number: 8674831
    Abstract: Security systems may include sensing, networked communications, stealth, alarms, and countermeasures, any or all of which may adapt to threats. These systems may also include armor and barriers of concrete and/or steel. They can adapt to severity of threats, weather, and/or other situational aspects. They can anticipate at least some threats in order to obtain early warning and react more quickly to those threats. They can adapt by altering their configurations, including alterations in communication networking structures and methods, and changes in data-storage and processing duties at processing nodes. Defensive and/or offensive countermeasures can be employed to deter, confuse, trap, and/or disable terrorists. The systems are capable of self-maintenance, self-healing, and self-restoration as threats subside. The systems can include subsystems capable of autonomous operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Kontek Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Merrill, Kevin Charles Kriegel, Roger Allen Nolte, Barclay J. Tullis
  • Patent number: 8471700
    Abstract: Security systems may include sensing, networked communications, stealth, alarms, and countermeasures, any or all of which may adapt to threats. These systems may also include armor and barriers of concrete and/or steel. They can adapt to severity of threats, weather, and/or other situational aspects. They can anticipate at least some threats in order to obtain early warning and react more quickly to those threats. They can adapt by altering their configurations, including alterations in communication networking structures and methods, and changes in data-storage and processing duties at processing nodes. Defensive and/or offensive countermeasures can be employed to deter, confuse, trap, and/or disable terrorists. The systems are capable of self-maintenance, self-healing, and self-restoration as threats subside. The systems can include subsystems capable of autonomous operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Kontek Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Merrill, Kevin Charles Kriegel, Roger Allen Nolte, Barclay J. Tullis
  • Patent number: 8384542
    Abstract: Security systems may include sensing, networked communications, stealth, alarms, and countermeasures, any or all of which may adapt to threats. These systems may also include armor and barriers of concrete and/or steel. They can adapt to severity of threats, weather, and/or other situational aspects. They can anticipate at least some threats in order to obtain early warning and react more quickly to those threats. They can adapt by altering their configurations, including alterations in communication networking structures and methods, and changes in data-storage and processing duties at processing nodes. Defensive and/or offensive countermeasures can be employed to deter, confuse, trap, and/or disable terrorists. The systems are capable of self-maintenance, self-healing, and self-restoration as threats subside. The systems can include subsystems capable of autonomous operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Kontek Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Merrill, Kevin Charles Kriegel, Roger Allen Nolte, Barclay J. Tullis
  • Patent number: 8309473
    Abstract: Acetylene is treated to remove some residual storage solvent that may be present with the acetylene in a source of acetylene such as a container. Such treatment may be performed prior to supplying the acetylene to a deposition chamber or other reactor where acetylene is a reactant. After treatment, the acetylene gas stream has a relatively constant concentration of storage solvent, regardless of how much acetylene has been released from the acetylene source. The treatment may involve condensing the storage solvent from the gas stream at a certain temperature and separating the storage solvent from the gas stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Novellus Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Gishun Hsu, Charles Merrill, Scott Stoddard
  • Patent number: 8152408
    Abstract: Barrier elements provide security from terrorist threats by ability to withstand both vehicle collisions and explosive blasts. Each barrier element is prefabricated to include a massive block of durable material, preferably of high strength concrete, with at least one tunnel extending at least partially between respective cavities in two opposite sides of the block. Each barrier element also includes at least one beam that is preferably made of steel and extends through one such tunnel. Multiple blocks are positionable slidably on top of the ground side-against-side with their beams coupled longitudinally to one another at least approximately end-to-end. Retainer means can be used to block coupling means from entry into the tunnels. Forces from a vehicle collision or an explosive blast can cause barrier elements to rotate relative to one-another when the couplings between beams hinge or bend as the durable material that interferes with the rotation breaks away.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Kontek Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Barclay J. Tullis, Roger Allen Nolte, Charles Merrill
  • Patent number: 8061930
    Abstract: Barrier elements provide security from terrorist threats by ability to withstand both vehicle collisions and explosive blasts. Each barrier element is prefabricated to include a massive block of durable material, preferably of high strength concrete, with at least one tunnel extending at least partially between respective cavities in two opposite sides of the block. Each barrier element also includes at least one beam that is preferably made of steel and extends through one such tunnel. Multiple blocks are positionable slidably on top of the ground side-against-side with their beams coupled longitudinally to one another at least approximately end-to-end. Retainer means can be used to block coupling means from entry into the tunnels. Forces from a vehicle collision or an explosive blast can cause barrier elements to rotate relative to one-another when the couplings between beams hinge or bend as the durable material that interferes with the rotation breaks away.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Kontek Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Barclay J. Tullis, Roger Allen Nolte, Charles Merrill
  • Patent number: 7946786
    Abstract: Barrier elements provide security from terrorist threats by ability to withstand both vehicle collisions and explosive blasts. Each barrier element is prefabricated to include a massive block of durable material, in some embodiments segmented, with at least one tunnel extending at least partially between respective cavities in two opposite sides of the block. Each barrier element also includes at least one beam that is preferably made of steel and extends through one such tunnel. Multiple blocks are positionable slidably on top of the ground side-against-side with their beams coupled longitudinally to one another at least approximately end-to-end. Retainer means can be used to block coupling means from entry into the tunnels. Forces from a vehicle collision or an explosive blast can cause barrier elements to rotate relative to one-another when the couplings between beams hinge or bend as the durable material that interferes with the rotation breaks away.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Kontek Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Barclay J. Tullis, Roger Allen Nolte, Charles Merrill
  • Publication number: 20100297853
    Abstract: Acetylene is treated to remove some residual storage solvent that may be present with the acetylene in a source of acetylene such as a container. Such treatment may be performed prior to supplying the acetylene to a deposition chamber or other reactor where acetylene is a reactant. After treatment, the acetylene gas stream has a relatively constant concentration of storage solvent, regardless of how much acetylene has been released from the acetylene source. The treatment may involve condensing the storage solvent from the gas stream at a certain temperature and separating the storage solvent from the gas stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2010
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Inventors: Gishun Hsu, Charles Merrill, Scott Stoddard
  • Patent number: 7820556
    Abstract: Acetylene is treated to remove some residual storage solvent that may be present with the acetylene in a source of acetylene such as a container. Such treatment may be performed prior to supplying the acetylene to a deposition chamber or other reactor where acetylene is a reactant. After treatment, the acetylene gas stream has a relatively constant concentration of storage solvent, regardless of how much acetylene has been released from the acetylene source. The treatment may involve condensing the storage solvent from the gas stream at a certain temperature and separating the storage solvent from the gas stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Novellus Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Gishun Hsu, Charles Merrill, Scott Stoddard
  • Patent number: 7654768
    Abstract: Barrier elements provide security from terrorist threats by ability to withstand both vehicle collisions and explosive blasts. Each barrier element is prefabricated to include a massive block of durable material, preferably of high strength concrete, with at least one tunnel extending at least partially between respective cavities in two opposite sides of the block. Each barrier element also includes at least one beam that is preferably made of steel and extends through one such tunnel. Multiple blocks are positionable slidably on top of the ground side-against-side with their beams coupled longitudinally to one another at least approximately end-to-end. Retainer means can be used to block coupling means from entry into the tunnels. Forces from a vehicle collision or an explosive blast can cause barrier elements to rotate relative to one-another when the couplings between beams hinge or bend as the durable material that interferes with the rotation breaks away.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Kontek Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Barclay J. Tullis, Roger Allen Nolte, Charles Merrill
  • Publication number: 20090305516
    Abstract: Acetylene is treated to remove some residual storage solvent that may be present with the acetylene in a source of acetylene such as a container. Such treatment may be performed prior to supplying the acetylene to a deposition chamber or other reactor where acetylene is a reactant. After treatment, the acetylene gas stream has a relatively constant concentration of storage solvent, regardless of how much acetylene has been released from the acetylene source. The treatment may involve condensing the storage solvent from the gas stream at a certain temperature and separating the storage solvent from the gas stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2008
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventors: Gishun Hsu, Charles Merrill, Scott Stoddard