Patents by Inventor Dennis Willson

Dennis Willson 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: 9453193
    Abstract: Photobioreactors according to embodiments of the present invention deliver nutrient gas intermittently to the photobioreactor media. In some embodiments, one or more gases are delivered according to a duty cycle or timing pattern. According to some embodiments, algae is grown in a photobioreactor using intermittent introduction of carbon dioxide. In other embodiments, carbon dioxide is supplied to algae grown in a photobioreactor in whole or in part from a head space above the media of the photobioreactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignees: COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY RESEARCH FOUNDATION, SOLIX ALGREDIENTS, INC.
    Inventors: Guy Robert Babbitt, Michael Ryan Buehner, David Jacob Rausen, Richard Charles Schoonover, Christopher Wayne Turner, Kristina Weyer-Geigel, Bryan Dennis Willson, Peter Michael Young, David Eli Sherman, Jason Charles Quinn
  • Publication number: 20150368598
    Abstract: A top reference photobioreactor system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a flexible floating photobioreactor having a buoyancy tube filled with a gas that is less dense, and a ballast tube filled with a substance, such as saltwater, that is more dense, than the liquid in which the photobioreactor floats. A top reference photobioreactor method according to an embodiment of the present invention includes controlling a depth of the top reference photobioreactor by controlling a volume and/or density of ballast in the ballast tube and/or by controlling a volume and/or density of gas in the buoyancy tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Publication date: December 24, 2015
    Applicants: Solix Algredients, Inc., Colorado State University Research Foundation
    Inventors: Christopher Wayne Turner, Bryan Rhea McCarty, Peter Allen Letvin, Bryan Dennis Willson, Daniel Robert Herboldsheimer
  • Patent number: 9145539
    Abstract: A top reference photobioreactor system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a flexible floating photobioreactor having a buoyancy tube filled with a gas that is less dense, and a ballast tube filled with a substance, such as saltwater, that is more dense, than the liquid in which the photobioreactor floats. A top reference photobioreactor method according to an embodiment of the present invention includes controlling a depth of the top reference photobioreactor by controlling a volume and/or density of ballast in the ballast tube and/or by controlling a volume and/or density of gas in the buoyancy tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignees: SOLIX ALGREDIENTS, INC., COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Christopher Wayne Turner, Bryan Rhea McCarty, Peter Allen Letvin, Bryan Dennis Willson, Daniel Robert Herboldsheimer
  • Publication number: 20120107921
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include model-based controls to control photobioreactor operation and the growth of algae for use as a biofuels feedstock. In some embodiments, the model-based control can accounts for future conditions such as weather, product pricing, customer demands and/or other variables to operate the reactors in a manner that optimizes product revenues, minimizes costs or energy, maximizes photosynthetic or energy balance efficiency, and/or any combination of the aforementioned factors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2009
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicants: COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY RESEARCH FOUNDATION, SOLIX BIOFUELS, INC.
    Inventors: Bryan Dennis Willson, Michael R. Buehner, Peter Michael Young, David Jacob Rausen, Guy Robert Babbitt, Rich Schoonover, Kristina Weyer-Geigel, David Eli Sherman
  • Publication number: 20120107792
    Abstract: Photobioreactors according to embodiments of the present invention deliver nutrient gas intermittently to the photobioreactor media. In some embodiments, one or more gases are delivered according to a duty cycle or timing pattern. According to some embodiments, algae is grown in a photobioreactor using intermittent introduction of carbon dioxide. In other embodiments, carbon dioxide is supplied to algae grown in a photobioreactor in whole or in part from a head space above the media of the photobioreactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Inventors: Guy Robert Babbitt, Michael Ryan Buehner, David Jacob Rausen, Richard Charles Schoonover, Christopher Wayne Turner, Kristina Weyer-Geigel, Bryan Dennis Willson, Peter Michael Young, David Eli Sherman, Jason Charles Quinn
  • Publication number: 20110281340
    Abstract: A top reference photobioreactor system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a flexible floating photobioreactor having a buoyancy tube filled with a gas that is less dense, and a ballast tube filled with a substance, such as saltwater, that is more dense, than the liquid in which the photobioreactor floats. A top reference photobioreactor method according to an embodiment of the present invention includes controlling a depth of the top reference photobioreactor by controlling a volume and/or density of ballast in the ballast tube and/or by controlling a volume and/or density of gas in the buoyancy tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Inventors: Christopher Wayne TURNER, Bryan Rhea MCCARTY, Peter Allen LETVIN, Bryan Dennis WILLSON, Daniel Robert HERBOLDSHEIMER
  • Publication number: 20100112649
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention report compositions, methods and uses for growth and/or production of byproducts, products and/or co-products from algal cultures. Certain embodiments of the present invention report using wastewaters to grow microorganisms for producing one or more products, byproducts or co-products from the microorganisms. Other embodiments report compositions and methods for rapid growth of any photosynthetic organism in culture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2009
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Inventors: Bryan Dennis WILLSON, Gail M. BERARDINO-LANG, Amy L. BOCZON, Anna ETTINGER, Nicholas A. RANCIS, Mark Thomas MACHACEK
  • Publication number: 20090305389
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include photobioreactors with membranes to introduce carbon dioxide into media contained within film photobioreactors. Such membranes can also be used to remove dissolved oxygen from the media. In some embodiments, one or more membrane tubes are welded into a plastic film photobioreactor to make a one-piece reactor. According to some embodiments of the present invention, algae is grown in a photobioreactor using pressure, gas composition, and surface area along with sparging to control the pH in the photobioreactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2009
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventors: Bryan Dennis WILLSON, Christopher Wayne TURNER, Guy Robert BABBITT, Peter Allan LETVIN, Sumith Ranil WICKRMASINGHE
  • Publication number: 20060224677
    Abstract: A system and method for detecting email fraud is disclosed. In one embodiment of the invention, the system includes a collection module for collecting a plurality of bounced email messages originating from an injection source, and a source mining module for determining the location of the injection source. The bounced email messages include a fraudulent status indicator that can be detected to determine that the injection source is sending email messages intended to defraud the recipient users of the email. In another embodiment of the invention, the system for detecting email fraud includes a honeypot module for attracting email messages associated with an injection source, and a target module for determining the location of the target host, wherein the location of the target host is determined by examining the redirection mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2005
    Publication date: October 5, 2006
    Applicant: BayTSP
    Inventors: Mark Ishikawa, Dennis Willson, Travis Hill