Patents by Inventor Christopher A. Hall

Christopher A. Hall 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).

  • Advanced Oxidation Process for Ex-Situ Groundwater Remediation
    Publication number: 20160207813
    Abstract: According to various aspects and embodiments, a system and method for treated contaminated groundwater is provided. The groundwater is contaminated with an initial concentration of recalcitrant organic contaminant. According to some embodiments, the contaminated groundwater is treated by introducing a persulfate to produce a first treated aqueous solution and then exposing the first treated aqueous solution to ultraviolet light to produce a second treated aqueous solution. The second treated aqueous solution may have a concentration of the recalcitrant organic contaminant that is at least 50% less than the initial concentration of recalcitrant organic contaminant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2016
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Inventors: Adam Szcesniak, Jonathan H. Wood, Bruce L. Coulter, Christopher Hall, Sevang Doung
  • UNISON RING SELF-CENTRALIZERS AND METHOD OF CENTRALIZING
    Publication number: 20160201504
    Abstract: A centralizing assembly for an engine having a plurality or rotatable vanes is provided including an engine casing and at least one unison ring disposed concentrically there about. A spacing gap is formed between the unison ring and the engine casing and is variable between a maximum spacing gap and a minimum spacing gap in response to thermal expansion of the engine casing. A centralizer element includes a plunger element movably mounted to unison ring and spanning the spacing gap. At least one conical spring washer is mounted to the plunger element and exerts a centralizing force through the plunger element onto the engine casing. The at least one conical spring washer maintains the centralizing force between the maximum spacing gap and the minimum spacing gap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Inventor: Christopher Hall
  • Power consumption reduction in a computing device
    Patent number: 9342134
    Abstract: Various techniques for reducing power consumption of a computing device are described herein. In one example, a method includes detecting that the computing device is to execute a first operation for a first hardware component. The method can also include determining that the computing device is not to execute a second operation for a second hardware component during a period of time. Furthermore, the method can include loading operation data corresponding to the first operation into a processor cache from a non-volatile storage device and detecting that the first operation is not to request memory data from a volatile storage device. The method can also include removing power from at least one storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Shane Matthews, Christopher Hall
  • Text synchronization with audio
    Patent number: 9305530
    Abstract: A technology for synchronizing text with audio includes analyzing the audio to identify voice segments in the audio where a human voice is present and to identify non-voice segments in proximity to the voice segments. Segmented text associated with the audio, having text segments, may be identified and synchronized to the voice segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Brandon Scott Durham, Darren Levi Malek, Toby Ray Latin-Stoermer, Abhishek Mishra, Jason Christopher Hall
  • One trip toe-to-heel gravel pack and liner cementing assembly
    Patent number: 9260950
    Abstract: A gravel packing assembly gravel packs a horizontal borehole. Operators wash down the borehole using an inner string in a first position by flowing fluid from the inner string through the apparatus' toe. Operators then gravel pack by moving the inner string to one or more flow ports between a screen and the toe. Slurry flows into the borehole from the flow ports, and returns from the borehole flow through the screen. The gravel in the slurry can pack the borehole in an alpha-beta wave from toe to heel. In another condition, operators can move the inner string to a second flow port so slurry can flow into the borehole through a shunt extending from the second flow port. When gravel packing is done, operators move the inner string to a port collar in a liner of the assembly to cement the liner in the borehole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Weatherford Technologies Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: John P. Broussard, Christopher Hall, Ronald van Petegem, Alvaro J. Arrazola
  • NAVIGATING MEDIA PLAYBACK USING SCROLLABLE TEXT
    Publication number: 20160011761
    Abstract: A computing device can periodically acquire a current track time for a media content item being played. The device can periodically compare the current track time with a respective start time and a respective end time for each line (or segment) in a plurality of lines of text (or segments of text) associated with the media content item. If the device determines that the current track time is between start and end times for a given line of text, then the device can display the given line of text. A user of the device can scroll through the lines of text associated with the media content item. If the user selects a particular line of text, the device can identify a start time for the selected line of text. The device can then play the media content item at the identified start time of the selected line of text.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Publication date: January 14, 2016
    Inventors: TOBY RAY LATIN-STOERMER, JONATHAN BEECH, HARI GANGADHARAN, GABRIELA AHERN, BRANDON SCOTT DURHAM, DARREN LEVI MALEK, RALPH CAMERON HARVEY, BENJAMIN LEE SHEPHERD, JASON CHRISTOPHER HALL, ANDREW POWELL MCGOOGAN, ROBERT RICHARD MORSE
  • EMBEDDED HOIST HUMAN-MACHINE INTERFACE
    Publication number: 20150379783
    Abstract: A cable drum receives a length of working cable that is wound in and out from the drum in response to powered rotation of the drum with an uppermost layer of working cable on the drum forming a working surface. A torque sensor in communication with the cable drum measures a torque applied to the cable drum due to tension on the working cable from a load. A drum height gauge is provided for measuring a height of the working surface of the cable on the cable drum. A processor receives the torque value from the torque sensor and the height of the working surface from the drum height gauge and computes a force applied to the length of working cable due to the load based on the torque and height of the working surface. The work performed by the cable may be calculated to assist in determining cable health.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2015
    Publication date: December 31, 2015
    Inventors: ERIC JUSTIN SALLEE, DAVID LLOYD McCARTHY, SHANNON JONES, DARREN SCOTT BARNES, IAN CHRISTOPHER HALL, ROBERT JAY SHALLOW, JOHN W. HASSELL, DONALD JAMES McKAY, STEPHEN MATTHEW POLLARD
  • Determine video to play with audio
    Patent number: 9219900
    Abstract: Example embodiments disclosed herein relate to determining video to play based on audio. Videos associated with the audio are determined. One of the videos to play with the audio is determined based on analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: HEWLETT PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: David Paul Billmaier, Jason Christopher Hall, Alexander Charles Barclay, John Max Kellum, Henry Hideyuki Yamamoto
  • Navigating media playback using scrollable text
    Patent number: 9176658
    Abstract: A computing device can periodically acquire a current track time for a media content item being played. The device can periodically compare the current track time with a respective start time and a respective end time for each line (or segment) in a plurality of lines of text (or segments of text) associated with the media content item. If the device determines that the current track time is between start and end times for a given line of text, then the device can display the given line of text. A user of the device can scroll through the lines of text associated with the media content item. If the user selects a particular line of text, the device can identify a start time for the selected line of text. The device can then play the media content item at the identified start time of the selected line of text.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Toby Ray Latin-Stoermer, Jonathan Beech, Hari Gangadharan, Gabriela Ahern, Brandon Scott Durham, Darren Levi Malek, Ralph Cameron Harvey, Benjamin Lee Shepherd, Jason Christopher Hall, Andrew Powell McGoogan, Robert Richard Morse
  • Inwardly swelling seal
    Patent number: 9163478
    Abstract: A device and method that allows a gravel slurry to placed in a wellbore from the toe towards the heel to reduce the pressure acting upon the heel of the wellbore during the gravel placement operation. By reducing the pressure acting upon the heel gravel slurry may be placed in longer sections of the wellbore in a single operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: John P. Broussard, Christopher A. Hall, Patrick J. Zimmerman, Glen Robitaille
  • HARDWARE ASSISTED MEDIA PLAYBACK AND CAPTURE SYNCHRONIZATION
    Publication number: 20150264136
    Abstract: Techniques to output a media stream, capture a media stream, or synchronize the output or capture of the media stream at a specified time are described. A media stream output or capture apparatus may include a media processor to receive a media stream to output or a request to capture a media stream and a start time. A buffer generator may be included to generate an input or an output buffer and a media mixer may be included to mix the media stream into the output buffer at the start time or capture the media stream from the input buffer at the start time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Inventors: CHRISTOPHER HALL, KEVIN B. STANTON, PIERRE-LOUIS BOSSART, ANTHONY S. BOCK, OHAD FALIK
  • Erosion resistant flow nozzle for downhole tool
    Patent number: 9097104
    Abstract: An erosion resistant nozzle is brazed to the surface of a tubular, such as a shunt tube of a wellscreen apparatus, for use in a wellbore. The nozzle is elongated and defines an aperture for communicating exiting flow from the tubular's port. The lead end of the nozzle disposed downstream of the exiting flow can be lengthened to prevent erosion to the tubular. The lead endwall of the nozzle's aperture can be angled relative to the nozzle's length and can be rounded. The nozzle can be composed of an erosion resistant material or can be composed of a conventional material having an erosion resistant coating or plating thereon. Being elongated with a low height, the nozzle can have a low profile on the tubular, and the aperture's elongating can be increased or decreased to increase or decrease the flow area through the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Rodney S. Royer, Henry Joe Jordan, Jr., Jeffrey E. Kubiak, Christopher Hall
  • PLANT PHENOMETRICS SYSTEMS AND METHODS AND DEVICES RELATED THERETO
    Publication number: 20150204787
    Abstract: Chlorophyll fluorescence may be studied in response to a variety of environmental cues or conditions by growing phototrophic organisms under actinic illumination. Such illumination may be punctuated or disrupted to gain information about the photosynthetic properties or performance of the phototrophic organism. Instruments or devices for carrying out the method are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Publication date: July 23, 2015
    Applicant: BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: David Kramer, Jeffrey Cruz, Christopher Hall, William Kent Kovac, Robert Zegarac
  • Gravel pack bypass assembly
    Patent number: 9085960
    Abstract: A gravel pack operation disposes slurry from an inner string into the annulus around a shoe track. A valve on the shoe track can open and close flow through a port, and seats around the port allow an outlet of the tool to seal with the port. When the valve is open and the outlet sealed with the port, the slurry in the string is pumped into the borehole around the shoe track by flowing the slurry from the outlet into the borehole through the flow port. As this occurs, gravel collects around the shoe track, and fluid returns in the borehole flow back into the shoe track through a screen disposed toward the track's toe. Once inside the shoe track, the fluid returns communicate through a bypass on the shoe track around the sealed outlet and port. At this point, the fluid returns can pass uphole in the gravel pack assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Ronald van Petegem, John P. Broussard, Christopher Hall, Patrick J. Zimmerman
  • High-Rate Injection Screen Assembly with Checkable Ports
    Publication number: 20150192001
    Abstract: A screen assembly can be used for “gravel pack” or “frac pack” operations and can then withstand high rate injections. The disclosed screen assembly is able to withstand the flow of the packing operation by not allowing fluid passage from the annulus to inside the screen assembly. Then, the screen assembly can be opened and facilitate high rate injection for the life of the well. To achieve this, the disclosed screen assembly does not allow slurry flow to enter the screen assembly during the packing operation. Then, after the packing is completed, the screen assembly provides enough open flow area so that a high injection rate with solid content can be introduced into the annulus without eroding the screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Publication date: July 9, 2015
    Inventor: Christopher A. Hall
  • Gravel pack inner string adjustment device
    Patent number: 9068435
    Abstract: A downhole assembly, such as a toe-to-heel gravel pack assembly, has a body with a body passage, outlet ports for slurry, and screens for fluid returns. An inner string deploys in the body to perform the toe-to-heel gravel packing. A telescoping adjustment device allows the inner string to space out properly when deployed to the toe of the assembly. Sealing surfaces or seats of a locating device in the body separate a sealable space and seal against seals on the inner string movably disposed therein. Fluid pumped in the string produces a pressure buildup when the string's port communicates with the sealable space. The pressure buildup indicates that the tool is positioned at a first location in the assembly, and other positions for placement of the tool can then be calculated therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: John P. Broussard, Ronald van Petegem, Christopher Hall, Patrick J. Zimmerman, Brian Ritchey, Rockni Van Clief
  • Connecting rod with lubrication passage
    Patent number: 9068530
    Abstract: Exemplary connecting rods and piston assemblies are disclosed. An exemplary connecting rod includes a shaft extending between a piston pin end and a crankshaft pin end, where the piston pin end defines a pin bore opening. The shaft defines a lubrication passage. The connecting rod further includes a piston pin bore surface extending about an inner circumference of the pin bore opening, and the lubrication passage extends through the shaft from the crankshaft pin end to the pin bore opening. The connecting rod may further include a valve received within the opening, e.g., a one-way valve, that is configured to permit a fluid to flow through the valve toward the piston pin end while restricting flow of the fluid through the valve toward the crankshaft pin end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Mahle International GmbH
    Inventors: Christopher Hall, Dan H. Dinu
  • Gravel pack inner string hydraulic locating device
    Patent number: 9057251
    Abstract: A downhole assembly, such as a toe-to-heel gravel pack assembly, has a body with a body passage, outlet ports for slurry, and screens for fluid returns. An inner string deploys in the body to perform the toe-to-heel gravel packing. A telescoping adjustment device allows the inner string to space out properly when deployed to the toe of the assembly. Sealing surfaces of a locating device in the body separate a sealable space and seal against seals on the inner string movably disposed therein. Fluid pumped in the string produces a pressure buildup when the string's port communicates with the sealable space. The pressure buildup indicates that the tool is positioned at a first location in the assembly, and other positions for placement of the tool can then be calculated therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: John P. Broussard, Ronald van Petegem, Christopher Hall, Patrick J. Zimmerman, Brian Ritchey, Rockni Van Clief
  • Dual-purpose steam injection and production tool
    Patent number: 9027642
    Abstract: A dual-purpose tool can be used for steam injection and production in a wellbore. A mandrel deploys in the wellbore to communicate steam in a steam injection operation and to communicate production fluid from the wellbore during production operations. A distributor on the mandrel has nozzles for injecting steam into the wellbore and has production valves for producing fluids from the wellbore. A screen can be used to screen production fluids as they are produced through the production valves. The nozzles can also allows produced fluids to flow into the mandrel, or backflow valves can be used to restrict flow of produced fluids through the nozzles while permitting the flow of steam out of the nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: John S. Sladic, Brian Sternaman, Christopher Hall
  • Microbubble generating technique for phase aberration correction
    Patent number: 9022939
    Abstract: Method and system for ultrasound imaging of body tissue in which a focused ultrasound (FUS) transducer (20) is oriented relative to the body such that ultrasonic waves generated by the FUS transducer (20) are directed toward the tissue being imaged. The FUS transducer (20) is operated to cause the formation of microbubbles (28) in the tissue and an ultrasound image of the tissue with the microbubbles (28) is acquired. Phase aberration in the acquired ultrasound image may be corrected, if necessary, using each microbubble (28) as a point source or point-like scatterer. Microbubble (28) formation can therefore be obtained in a non-invasive manner since FUS-induced microbubble (28) formation does not require the insertion of interventional tools into the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Christopher Hall, Shunmugavelu Sokka, David Louis Marie Savery, Chien-Ting Chin