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).
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Patent number: 9743013Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 5, 2015Date of Patent: August 22, 2017Assignee: KONTEK INDUSTRIES, INCInventors: Charles Merrill, Roger Allen Nolte, Barclay J. Tullis
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Patent number: 9092962Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 8, 2010Date of Patent: July 28, 2015Assignee: KONTEK INDUSTRIES, INC.Inventors: Charles Merrill, Kevin Charles Kriegel, Roger Allen Nolte, Barclay J. Tullis
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Patent number: 8674831Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 8, 2010Date of Patent: March 18, 2014Assignee: Kontek Industries, Inc.Inventors: Charles Merrill, Kevin Charles Kriegel, Roger Allen Nolte, Barclay J. Tullis
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Patent number: 8471700Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 8, 2010Date of Patent: June 25, 2013Assignee: Kontek Industries, Inc.Inventors: Charles Merrill, Kevin Charles Kriegel, Roger Allen Nolte, Barclay J. Tullis
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Patent number: 8384542Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 8, 2010Date of Patent: February 26, 2013Assignee: Kontek Industries, Inc.Inventors: Charles Merrill, Kevin Charles Kriegel, Roger Allen Nolte, Barclay J. Tullis
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Patent number: 8309473Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 25, 2010Date of Patent: November 13, 2012Assignee: Novellus Systems, Inc.Inventors: Gishun Hsu, Charles Merrill, Scott Stoddard
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Patent number: 8152408Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 4, 2011Date of Patent: April 10, 2012Assignee: Kontek Industries, Inc.Inventors: Barclay J. Tullis, Roger Allen Nolte, Charles Merrill
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Patent number: 8061930Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 13, 2009Date of Patent: November 22, 2011Assignee: Kontek Industries, Inc.Inventors: Barclay J. Tullis, Roger Allen Nolte, Charles Merrill
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Patent number: 7946786Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 13, 2009Date of Patent: May 24, 2011Assignee: Kontek Industries, Inc.Inventors: Barclay J. Tullis, Roger Allen Nolte, Charles Merrill
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Publication number: 20100297853Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 25, 2010Publication date: November 25, 2010Inventors: Gishun Hsu, Charles Merrill, Scott Stoddard
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Patent number: 7820556Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 4, 2008Date of Patent: October 26, 2010Assignee: Novellus Systems, Inc.Inventors: Gishun Hsu, Charles Merrill, Scott Stoddard
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Patent number: 7654768Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 19, 2006Date of Patent: February 2, 2010Assignee: Kontek Industries, Inc.Inventors: Barclay J. Tullis, Roger Allen Nolte, Charles Merrill
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Publication number: 20090305516Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 4, 2008Publication date: December 10, 2009Inventors: Gishun Hsu, Charles Merrill, Scott Stoddard