Patents by Inventor Chris Williams

Chris Williams 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: 9845554
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to nanofiber yarns, ribbons, and sheets; to methods of making said yarns, ribbons, and sheets; and to applications of said yarns, ribbons, and sheets. In some embodiments, the nanotube yarns, ribbons, and sheets comprise carbon nanotubes. Particularly, such carbon nanotube yarns of the present invention provide unique properties and property combinations such as extreme toughness, resistance to failure at knots, high electrical and thermal conductivities, high absorption of energy that occurs reversibly, up to 13% strain-to-failure compared with the few percent strain-to-failure of other fibers with similar toughness, very high resistance to creep, retention of strength even when heated in air at 450° C. for one hour, and very high radiation and UV resistance, even when irradiated in air. Furthermore these nanotube yarns can be spun as one micron diameter yarns and plied at will to make two-fold, four-fold, and higher fold yarns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Mei Zhang, Shaoli Fang, Ray H. Baughman, Anvar A. Zakhidov, Ali E. Aliev, Sergey Li, Chris Williams
  • Publication number: 20170327377
    Abstract: A nanofiber forest on a substrate can be patterned to produce a patterned assembly of nanofibers that can be drawn to form nanofiber sheets, ribbons, or yarns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Applicant: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Mei Zhang, Shaoli Fang, Ray H. Baughman, Anvar A. Zakhidov, Kenneth Ross Atkinson, Ali E. Aliev, Sergey Li, Chris Williams
  • Patent number: 9815699
    Abstract: A nanofiber forest on a substrate can be patterned to produce a patterned assembly of nanofibers that can be drawn to form nanofiber sheets, ribbons, or yarns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Mei Zhang, Shaoli Fang, Ray H. Baughman, Anvar A. Zakhidov, Kenneth Ross Atkinson, Ali E. Aliev, Sergey Li, Chris Williams
  • Patent number: 9695787
    Abstract: A sealing arrangement for a post for an intake manifold having a first portion and a second portion held together is set forth. Each of the portions extends from a shell half that, when the two shells are attached to one another, form the intake manifold. Each of the portions includes a face. A groove is formed on at least one of the portions. A seal is fitted in the groove. A fastener hole is formed in the portions. In one portion, the fastener hole passes through the portion and in the other a thread is formed by a thread forming fastener. The seal may be positioned in a groove formed on a post face, in a groove formed adjacent the opening of the fastener-receiving hole in the post, or in a groove formed on an interior wall of the post adjacent a cap fitted over the head of the thread forming fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chris William Newman, Katherine Jane Randall, David Born
  • Patent number: 9688536
    Abstract: A process of producing a yarn, ribbon or sheet comprising nanofibers that includes infiltrating a liquid into the yarn, ribbon or sheet and evaporating the liquid from the yarn, ribbon, or sheet to strengthen the yarn, ribbon or sheet. The yarn, ribbon, or sheet can be formed by solid-state draw from a carbon nanotube forest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Mei Zhang, Shaoli Fang, Ray H. Baughman, Anvar A. Zakhidov, Kenneth Ross Atkinson, Ali E. Aliev, Sergey Li, Chris Williams
  • Publication number: 20170175916
    Abstract: The control valve assembly includes a valve housing defining a bore and a valve assembly. The valve assembly includes a spool assembly disposed in the bore of the valve housing. The spool assembly includes a first spool and a second spool. The first spool has a first axial end and an oppositely disposed second axial end. The first spool is made of a first material. The first material is non-magnetic. The second spool has a first end and an oppositely disposed second end. The first end of the second spool is engaged to the second axial end of the first spool. The second spool is made of a second material. The second material is magnetic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: Tam Chi Huynh, Chris William Schottler
  • Publication number: 20170160031
    Abstract: This disclosure involves a method of controlling a safety critical control device, the method comprising: sending user inputs to a first state machine, identifying user inputs by the first state machine, determining the correct state to communicate to a second state machine, the correct state being determined by selecting one state of a plurality of states depending on the user inputs, communicating the correct state to a second state machine through a control bus, and determining the correct state for the second state machine based on communication from the control bus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2017
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Inventors: William Reed, Dan Duval, John Proctor, Alan Ford, Chris Williams
  • Publication number: 20170137290
    Abstract: Fabricating a nanofiber sheet, ribbon, or yarn by a continuous process that includes synthesizing a nanofiber forest in a furnace growth region on a substrate, wherein the nanofiber forest comprises a parallel array of nanofibers, and further includes drawing said nanofibers from the nanofiber forest to form a primary assembly that is the sheet, ribbon or yarn. The substrate continuously moves from the furnace growth region into a region where the nanofibers in the forest are drawn.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2016
    Publication date: May 18, 2017
    Applicant: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Mei Zhang, Shaoli Fang, Ray H. Baughman, Anvar A. Zakhidov, Kenneth Ross Atkinson, Ali E. Aliev, Sergey Li, Chris Williams
  • Patent number: 9631301
    Abstract: A device including an array of aligned conductive channels. The conductive channels are operable for directional transport of species selected from the group consisting of electrons, ions, phonons, and combinations thereof. The conductive channels are provided for by nanofibers in a form selected from the group consisting of ribbons, sheets, yarns, and combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Mei Zhang, Shaoli Fang, Ray H. Baughman, Anvar A. Zakhidov, Kenneth Ross Atkinson, Ali E. Aliev, Sergey Li, Chris Williams
  • Publication number: 20170096750
    Abstract: A process of producing a yarn, ribbon or sheet that includes nanofibers in which the process includes forming a yarn, ribbon or sheet comprising nanofibers, and applying an enhancing agent comprising a polymer to the yarn, ribbon or sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2016
    Publication date: April 6, 2017
    Applicant: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Mei Zhang, Shaoli Fang, Ray H. Baughman, Anvar A. Zakhidov, Kenneth Ross Atkinson, Ali E. Aliev, Sergey Li, Chris Williams
  • Patent number: 9605363
    Abstract: Fabricating a nanofiber ribbon or sheet with a process that includes providing a primary assembly by arranging carbon nanotube nanofibers in aligned arrays, the arrays having a degree of inter-fiber connectivity, drawing the carbon nanotube nanofibers from the primary assembly into a sheet or ribbon, and depositing the sheet or ribbon on a substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: THE BOARD OF REGENTS, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM
    Inventors: Mei Zhang, Shaoli Fang, Ray H. Baughman, Anvar A. Zakhidov, Kenneth Ross Atkinson, Ali E. Aliev, Sergey Li, Chris Williams
  • Patent number: 9599970
    Abstract: This disclosure involves a method of controlling a safety critical control device, the method comprising: sending user inputs to a first state machine, identifying user inputs by the first state machine, determining the correct state to communicate to a second state machine, the correct state being determined by selecting one state of a plurality of states depending on the user inputs, communicating the correct state to a second state machine through a control bus, and determining the correct state for the second state machine based on communication from the control bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: William Reed, Dan Duval, John Proctor, Alan Ford, Chris Williams
  • Publication number: 20170032652
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing indications of received emergency alert messages to devices within a consumer premises are disclosed. In one embodiment, a consumer premise equipment (CPE) receiving one or more emergency alert messages from a content provider or managed network determines one or more alert responses for one or more devices of the consumer premise network. In one implementation, the responses are based at least in part on the received emergency alert messages themselves. The CPE issues one or more commands to one or more devices present within the consumer premises (which may be for example a home automation system), to indicate the one or more determined alert indication responses, such as auditory alert and visual alert by the one or more devices. Thus, users in the consumer premises may be made aware of an alert message outside of the typical means in which an alert is displayed, such as via a television.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2016
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    Inventors: Peter Stern, Scott Ramsdell, Adam Mayer, Mike Roudi, Chris Williams
  • Publication number: 20170001866
    Abstract: A process of producing a yarn, ribbon or sheet comprising nanofibers that includes infiltrating a liquid into the yarn, ribbon or sheet and evaporating the liquid from the yarn, ribbon, or sheet to strengthen the yarn, ribbon or sheet. The yarn, ribbon, or sheet can be formed by solid-state draw from a carbon nanotube forest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2016
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Applicant: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Mei Zhang, Shaoli Fang, Ray H. Baughman, Anvar A. Zakhidov, Kenneth Ross Atkinson, Ali E. Aliev, Sergey Li, Chris Williams
  • Patent number: 9512545
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to nanofiber yarns, ribbons, and sheets; to methods of making said yarns, ribbons, and sheets; and to applications of said yarns, ribbons, and sheets. In some embodiments, the nanotube yarns, ribbons, and sheets comprise carbon nanotubes. Particularly, such carbon nanotube yarns of the present invention provide unique properties and property combinations such as extreme toughness, resistance to failure at knots, high electrical and thermal conductivities, high absorption of energy that occurs reversibly, up to 13% strain-to-failure compared with the few percent strain-to-failure of other fibers with similar toughness, very high resistance to creep, retention of strength even when heated in air at 450° C. for one hour, and very high radiation and UV resistance, even when irradiated in air. Furthermore these nanotube yarns can be spun as one micron diameter yarns and plied at will to make two-fold, four-fold, and higher fold yarns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Mei Zhang, Shaoli Fang, Ray H. Baughman, Anvar A. Zakhidov, Kenneth Ross Atkinson, Ali E. Aliev, Sergey Li, Chris Williams
  • Patent number: 9481949
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to nanofiber yarns, ribbons, and sheets; to methods of making said yarns, ribbons, and sheets; and to applications of said yarns, ribbons, and sheets. In some embodiments, the nanotube yarns, ribbons, and sheets comprise carbon nanotubes. Particularly, such carbon nanotube yarns of the present invention provide unique properties and property combinations such as extreme toughness, resistance to failure at knots, high electrical and thermal conductivities, high absorption of energy that occurs reversibly, up to 13% strain-to-failure compared with the few percent strain-to-failure of other fibers with similar toughness, very high resistance to creep, retention of strength even when heated in air at 450° C. for one hour, and very high radiation and UV resistance, even when irradiated in air. Furthermore these nanotube yarns can be spun as one micron diameter yarns and plied at will to make two-fold, four-fold, and higher fold yarns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Mei Zhang, Shaoli Fang, Ray H. Baughman, Anvar A. Zakhidov, Kenneth Ross Atkinson, Ali E. Aliev, Sergey Li, Chris Williams
  • Publication number: 20160312387
    Abstract: A device including an array of aligned conductive channels. The conductive channels are operable for directional transport of species selected from the group consisting of electrons, ions, phonons, and combinations thereof. The conductive channels are provided for by nanofibers in a form selected from the group consisting of ribbons, sheets, yarns, and combinations thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2016
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Applicant: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Mei Zhang, Shaoli Fang, Ray H. Baughman, Anvar A. Zakhidov, Kenneth Ross Atkinson, Ali E. Aliev, Sergey Li, Chris Williams
  • Patent number: 9472091
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing indications of received emergency alert messages to devices within a consumer premises are disclosed. In one embodiment, a consumer premise equipment (CPE) receiving one or more emergency alert messages from a content provider or managed network determines one or more alert responses for one or more devices of the consumer premise network. In one implementation, the responses are based at least in part on the received emergency alert messages themselves. The CPE issues one or more commands to one or more devices present within the consumer premises (which may be for example a home automation system), to indicate the one or more determined alert indication responses, such as auditory alert and visual alert by the one or more devices. Thus, users in the consumer premises may be made aware of an alert message outside of the typical means in which an alert is displayed, such as via a television.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC
    Inventors: Peter Stern, Scott Ramsdell, Adam Mayer, Mike Roudi, Chris Williams
  • Publication number: 20160273133
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to nanofiber yarns, ribbons, and sheets; to methods of making said yarns, ribbons, and sheets; and to applications of said yarns, ribbons, and sheets. In some embodiments, the nanotube yarns, ribbons, and sheets comprise carbon nanotubes. Particularly, such carbon nanotube yarns of the present invention provide unique properties and property combinations such as extreme toughness, resistance to failure at knots, high electrical and thermal conductivities, high absorption of energy that occurs reversibly, up to 13% strain-to-failure compared with the few percent strain-to-failure of other fibers with similar toughness, very high resistance to creep, retention of strength even when heated in air at 450° C. for one hour, and very high radiation and UV resistance, even when irradiated in air. Furthermore these nanotube yarns can be spun as one micron diameter yarns and plied at will to make two-fold, four-fold, and higher fold yarns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2015
    Publication date: September 22, 2016
    Applicant: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Mei Zhang, Shaoli Fang, Ray H. Baughman, Anvar A. Zakhidov, Kenneth Ross Atkinson, Ali E. Aliev, Sergey Li, Chris Williams
  • Publication number: 20160251778
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to nanofiber yarns, ribbons, and sheets; to methods of making said yarns, ribbons, and sheets; and to applications of said yarns, ribbons, and sheets. In some embodiments, the nanotube yarns, ribbons, and sheets comprise carbon nanotubes. Particularly, such carbon nanotube yarns of the present invention provide unique properties and property combinations such as extreme toughness, resistance to failure at knots, high electrical and thermal conductivities, high absorption of energy that occurs reversibly, up to 13% strain-to-failure compared with the few percent strain-to-failure of other fibers with similar toughness, very high resistance to creep, retention of strength even when heated in air at 450° C. for one hour, and very high radiation and UV resistance, even when irradiated in air. Furthermore these nanotube yarns can be spun as one micron diameter yarns and plied at will to make two-fold, four-fold, and higher fold yarns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Publication date: September 1, 2016
    Applicant: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Mei Zhang, Shaoli Fang, Ray H. Baughman, Anvar A. Zakhidov, Ali E. Aliev, Sergey Li, Chris Williams