Patents by Inventor Derek Johnson

Derek Johnson 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: 12244003
    Abstract: Materials and methods for a coated active electrode material for use in a lithium-ion battery is provided. In one example, a coating for an active electrode material or active electrode material precursor of an electrode of a battery cell may include lithium, boron, and oxygen. In particular, the coating may include lithium tetraborate (LBO), and the coating may be coated on a lithium insertion electrode active material such as lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (LiNixMnyCo1-x-yO2 or NMC).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignee: A123 SYSTEMS LLC
    Inventors: Weidong Zhou, Lixin Wang, Fu Zhou, Derek Johnson
  • Patent number: 12212887
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described for determining a video resource allocation for outputting content via a display. The video resource allocation may be determined based on priorization data that priorities different areas of the content. A greater portion of resources for outputting the content may be allocated to different areas of the content based on the priorization of data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan Alan Leech, Nicholas Adam Pinckernell, Edward David Monnerat, Chris Robinson, Derek Johnson
  • Publication number: 20250011007
    Abstract: A representative system includes an alignment tool for aligning attachment interfaces of horizontally-oriented launch vehicle portions. The tool can include a receiver assembly for connecting to a first launch vehicle portion and an actuation assembly for connecting to a second launch vehicle portion. When a first connecting element of the receiver assembly is engaged with a second connecting element of the actuation assembly, the second connecting element can apply force to the receiver assembly, and the actuator assembly applies an opposite force to the second launch vehicle portion, to align fastening features in the launch vehicle portions and/or to reshape the launch vehicle portions. A representative method includes connecting the alignment tool to the launch vehicle portions and operating the tool to apply oppositely-directed forces to align the launch vehicle portions for installing fasteners to connect the launch vehicle portions. One or more bracing beams can connect two tools together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2024
    Publication date: January 9, 2025
    Inventor: Derek Johnson
  • Publication number: 20240323639
    Abstract: System and methods for providing dynamic positional audio are disclosed. Methods can comprise determining availability of one or more devices to output audio and determining a location of the one or more available devices. Audio information can be received and at least a portion of the audio information can be configured to generate assigned audio information based on the determined location of the available devices. The assigned audio information can be transmitted to the available devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2024
    Publication date: September 26, 2024
    Inventors: Chris Robinson, Shawn Kercher, Derek Johnson
  • Patent number: 12097976
    Abstract: A representative system includes an alignment tool for aligning attachment interfaces of horizontally-oriented launch vehicle portions. The tool can include a receiver assembly for connecting to a first launch vehicle portion and an actuation assembly for connecting to a second launch vehicle portion. When a first connecting element of the receiver assembly is engaged with a second connecting element of the actuation assembly, the second connecting element can apply force to the receiver assembly, and the actuator assembly applies an opposite force to the second launch vehicle portion, to align fastening features in the launch vehicle portions and/or to reshape the launch vehicle portions. A representative method includes connecting the alignment tool to the launch vehicle portions and operating the tool to apply oppositely-directed forces to align the launch vehicle portions for installing fasteners to connect the launch vehicle portions. One or more bracing beams can connect two tools together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2024
    Assignee: Blue Origin, LLC
    Inventor: Derek Johnson
  • Publication number: 20240282936
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for salt-rinse surface doping of electrode materials for lithium-ion batteries. In one example, a method may include dissolving a dopant salt in a solvent to form a dopant salt rinse solution, rinsing an electrode active material with the dopant salt rinse solution to form a coated electrode active material, and heating the coated electrode active material to form a doped electrode active material. In some examples, a surface region of the doped electrode active material may include a uniform distribution of dopants from the dopant salt rinse solution. In this way, the electrode active material may be rinsed and doped via the dopant salt rinse solution in a single-stage process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2024
    Publication date: August 22, 2024
    Inventors: Lei Liu, Kitae Kim, Lixin Wang, Anil Parmar, Bryan Kim, Chloe Harrison, Andrew Millonig, Derek Johnson, Eunsung Lee, Taehwan Yu
  • Publication number: 20240260675
    Abstract: A smoking substitute device is described. The device includes a housing with an upstream airflow inlet, a downstream airflow outlet, and an airflow path connecting the airflow inlet and the airflow outlet. The device also includes a heater for aerosol generation. The heater is located within the airflow path. The airflow inlet is occluded by an air-permeable, liquid-absorbent, blocking element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2022
    Publication date: August 8, 2024
    Inventors: Nikhil Aggarwal, Derek Johnson
  • Publication number: 20240260667
    Abstract: A smoking substitute device is described. The device includes an airflow inlet; an airflow outlet; and a flow path connecting the airflow inlet with the airflow outlet and for directing airflow from the airflow inlet to the airflow outlet. The device also includes a planar heater for aerosol generation, wherein the planar heater is located within the flow path. The airflow inlet includes a plurality of airflow sub-inlets, thereby reducing controlling airflow onto the heater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2022
    Publication date: August 8, 2024
    Inventors: Nikhil Aggarwal, Derek Johnson
  • Patent number: 12031888
    Abstract: Various examples are provided related to methane detection in harsh environments. In one example, a method includes drawing a sample of air from at least one first location; delivering the sample to a volume within a sensor block at a second location, where the sensor block includes a gas concentration sensor in communication with the volume; and where a vacuum is applied to the volume within the sensor block to facilitate delivery of the sample to the second location. In another example, a system includes a sampling unit that houses a sensor block, where a sample tube is coupled to an inlet of the sensor block, which includes a gas concentration sensor; an ejector that facilitates delivery of a sample of air from the first location via the sample tube; and a control unit that can receive a gas concentration sensor output from the sampling unit for processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Derek Johnson, Nigel Clark, Amber Barr, Brian Cappellini
  • Patent number: 12028703
    Abstract: System and methods for providing dynamic positional audio are disclosed. Methods can comprise determining availability of one or more devices to output audio and determining a location of the one or more available devices. Audio information can be received and at least a portion of the audio information can be configured to generate assigned audio information based on the determined location of the available devices. The assigned audio information can be transmitted to the available devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Chris Robinson, Shawn Kercher, Derek Johnson
  • Patent number: 12009507
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for salt-rinse surface doping of electrode materials for lithium-ion batteries. In one example, a method may include dissolving a dopant salt in a solvent to form a dopant salt rinse solution, rinsing an electrode active material with the dopant salt rinse solution to form a coated electrode active material, and heating the coated electrode active material to form a doped electrode active material. In some examples, a surface region of the doped electrode active material may include a uniform distribution of dopants from the dopant salt rinse solution. In this way, the electrode active material may be rinsed and doped via the dopant salt rinse solution in a single-stage process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: A123 SYSTEMS LLC
    Inventors: Lei Liu, Kitae Kim, Lixin Wang, Anil Parmar, Bryan Kim, Chloe Harrison, Andrew Millonig, Derek Johnson, Eunsung Lee, Taehwan Yu
  • Publication number: 20240162477
    Abstract: A lithium iron phosphate electrochemically active material for use in an electrode and methods and systems related thereto are disclosed. In one example, a lithium iron phosphate electrochemically active material for use in an electrode is provided including, a dopant comprising vanadium and optionally a co-dopant comprising cobalt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2024
    Publication date: May 16, 2024
    Inventors: Chuanjing Xu, Maha Hammoud, Judith M. LaForest, Hyojin Lee, Derek Johnson
  • Patent number: 11916185
    Abstract: A lithium iron phosphate electrochemically active material for use in an electrode and methods and systems related thereto are disclosed. In one example, a lithium iron phosphate electrochemically active material for use in an electrode is provided including, a dopant comprising vanadium and optionally a co-dopant comprising cobalt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: A123 SYSTEMS LLC
    Inventors: Chuanjing Xu, Maha Hammoud, Judith M. LaForest, Hyojin Lee, Derek Johnson
  • Patent number: 11896819
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are various spinal cord stimulation devices with thin film components, including a device having a flexible section disposed along a length of the elongate lead body of the device. Other stimulation devices have a flexible section disposed within the electrode body of the device. Further devices include both a flexible section disposed within the elongate lead body and a flexible section disposed within the electrode body of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: NeuroOne Medical Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Dave Rosa, Thomas Bachinski, Doug Weber, Vanessa Tolosa, Derek Johnson
  • Publication number: 20240017851
    Abstract: A representative system includes an alignment tool for aligning attachment interfaces of horizontally-oriented launch vehicle portions. The tool can include a receiver assembly for connecting to a first launch vehicle portion and an actuation assembly for connecting to a second launch vehicle portion. When a first connecting element of the receiver assembly is engaged with a second connecting element of the actuation assembly, the second connecting element can apply force to the receiver assembly, and the actuator assembly applies an opposite force to the second launch vehicle portion, to align fastening features in the launch vehicle portions and/or to reshape the launch vehicle portions. A representative method includes connecting the alignment tool to the launch vehicle portions and operating the tool to apply oppositely-directed forces to align the launch vehicle portions for installing fasteners to connect the launch vehicle portions. One or more bracing beams can connect two tools together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2023
    Publication date: January 18, 2024
    Inventor: Derek Johnson
  • Patent number: 11753183
    Abstract: A representative system includes an alignment tool for aligning attachment interfaces of horizontally-oriented launch vehicle portions. The tool can include a receiver assembly for connecting to a first launch vehicle portion and an actuation assembly for connecting to a second launch vehicle portion. When a first connecting element of the receiver assembly is engaged with a second connecting element of the actuation assembly, the second connecting element can apply force to the receiver assembly, and the actuator assembly applies an opposite force to the second launch vehicle portion, to align fastening features in the launch vehicle portions and/or to reshape the launch vehicle portions. A representative method includes connecting the alignment tool to the launch vehicle portions and operating the tool to apply oppositely-directed forces to align the launch vehicle portions for installing fasteners to connect the launch vehicle portions. One or more bracing beams can connect two tools together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Blue Origin, LLC
    Inventor: Derek Johnson
  • Publication number: 20230262410
    Abstract: System and methods for providing dynamic positional audio are disclosed. Methods can comprise determining availability of one or more devices to output audio and determining a location of the one or more available devices. Audio information can be received and at least a portion of the audio information can be configured to generate assigned audio information based on the determined location of the available devices. The assigned audio information can be transmitted to the available devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2023
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Inventors: Chris Robinson, Shawn Kercher, Derek Johnson
  • Patent number: 11682758
    Abstract: Materials and methods for coating an electrochemically active electrode material for use in a lithium-ion battery are provided. In one example, an electrochemically active electrode material comprises: a polymer coating applied directly to an exterior surface of the electrochemically active electrode material; a metal plating catalyst adhered to the continuous polymer; and a continuous metal coating that completely covers the metal catalyst and continuous polymer coating. The electrochemically active electrode material may comprise a powder comprising one or more secondary particles, and the polymer and metal coatings may be applied to exterior surfaces of these secondary particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: A123 Systems LLC
    Inventors: Kevin Scanlan, Derrick Spencer Maxwell, Derek Johnson, Jun Wang, Rocco Iocco, Weidong Zhou
  • Patent number: 11611843
    Abstract: System and methods for providing dynamic positional audio are disclosed. Methods can comprise determining availability of one or more devices to output audio and determining a location of the one or more available devices. Audio information can be received and at least a portion of the audio information can be configured to generate assigned audio information based on the determined location of the available devices. The assigned audio information can be transmitted to the available devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Chris Robinson, Shawn Kercher, Derek Johnson
  • Patent number: D981065
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: B&B Blending, LLC
    Inventors: Geoff Quinter, Nicklaus Mertz, Derek Johnson