Patents by Inventor Donald R. Hall

Donald R. 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).

  • Patent number: 7931198
    Abstract: A weather resistant modular sensor and computing platform reduces costs and enhances versatility of sensor systems. Rapidly evolving electronic technology results in hyper-obsolescence wherein sensor systems that are state of the art technology when designed, fall behind the art quickly as new transducers, batteries and components are developed. A cylindrical shaped modular system provides an architecture for up-grading sensors, batteries, special modules, communications, and control. A modular architecture extends the life cycle of a system and avoids hyper-obsolescence and the requirement to design a complete new system to incorporate new technology. Modularity and low cost manufacturing methods enable the practical definition of a cylindrical computer. The cylinder shaped enclosures have on their ends a common connection interface to which modules may be added. This provides a long system life cycle and wide ranging versatility. The size of the platform is not restricted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Inventor: Donald R. Hall
  • Patent number: 7490769
    Abstract: A weather resistant modular sensor and computing platform reduces costs and enhances versatility of sensor systems. Rapidly evolving electronic technology results in hyper-obsolescence wherein sensor systems that are state of the art technology when designed, fall behind the art quickly as new transducers, batteries and components are developed. A cylindrical shaped modular system provides an architecture for up-grading sensors, batteries, special modules, communications, and control. A modular architecture extends the life cycle of a system and avoids hyper-obsolescence and the requirement to design a complete new system to incorporate new technology. Modularity and low cost manufacturing methods enable the practical definition of a cylindrical computer. The cylinder shaped enclosures have on their ends a common connection interface to which modules may be added. This provides a long system life cycle and wide ranging versatility. The size of the platform is not restricted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Inventor: Donald R. Hall
  • Patent number: 7172119
    Abstract: A weather resistant modular sensor and computing platform reduces costs and enhances versatility of sensor systems. Rapidly evolving electronic technology results in hyper-obsolescence wherein sensor systems that are state of the art technology when designed, fall behind the art quickly as new transducers, batteries and components are developed. A cylindrical shaped modular system provides an architecture for up-grading sensors, batteries, special modules, communications, and control. A modular architecture extends the life cycle of a system and avoids hyper-obsolescence and the requirement to design a complete new system to incorporate new technology. Modularity and low cost manufacturing methods enable the practical definition of a cylindrical computer. The cylinder shaped enclosures have on their ends a common connection interface to which modules may be added. This provides a long system life cycle and wide ranging versatility. The size of the platform is not restricted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Inventor: Donald R. Hall
  • Publication number: 20040200900
    Abstract: A weather resistant modular sensor and computing platform reduces costs and enhances versatility of sensor systems. Rapidly evolving electronic technology results in hyper-obsolescence wherein sensor systems that are state of the art technology when designed, fall behind the art quickly as new transducers, batteries and components are developed. A cylindrical shaped modular system provides an architecture for up-grading sensors, batteries, special modules, communications, and control. A modular architecture extends the life cycle of a system and avoids hyper-obsolescence and the requirement to design a complete new system to incorporate new technology. Modularity and low cost manufacturing methods enable the practical definition of a cylindrical computer. The cylinder shaped enclosures have on their ends a common connection interface to which modules may be added. This provides a long system life cycle and wide ranging versatility. The size of the platform is not restricted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Publication date: October 14, 2004
    Inventor: Donald R. Hall
  • Patent number: 6789343
    Abstract: An automatic choke system for automatically adjusting the amount of choke applied to a series of shots discharged from shotgun. The automatic choke system includes a tube assembly with a plurality of longitudinal slits within the distal end thereof, a collar unit attached about the tube assembly, and a swedge assembly slidably positioned between the tube assembly and the collar unit. A latch unit attached to the collar unit selectively allows the swedge assembly to move forwardly one position after each shot fired. The latch unit is operated by gas flow from the interior of the barrel of the shotgun during a shot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Inventors: James P. Dietrich, Donald R. Hall
  • Patent number: 6766950
    Abstract: A weather resistant modular sensor and computing platform reduces costs and enhances versatility of sensor systems. Rapidly evolving electronic technology results in hyper-obsolescence wherein sensor systems that are state of the art technology when designed, fall behind the art quickly as new transducers, batteries and components are developed. A cylindrical shaped modular system provides an architecture for up-grading sensors, batteries, special modules, communications, and control. A modular architecture extends the life cycle of a system and avoids hyper-obsolescence and the requirement to design a complete new system to incorporate new technology. Modularity and low cost manufacturing methods enable the practical definition of a cylindrical computer. The cylinder shaped enclosures have on their ends a common connection interface to which modules may be added. This provides a long system life cycle and wide ranging versatility. The size of the platform is not restricted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Inventor: Donald R. Hall
  • Patent number: 6708443
    Abstract: An apparatus configured to provide standing water at convenient locations for the use of mosquitoes to lay eggs. After eggs are deposited in the development cycle of the egg, the larva, pupa, adult life stage are interrupted by denying the proper environment to sustain their development. Also disclosed is an apparatus to abate mosquito populations which provides a convenient and attractive reservoir of liquid situated to encourage use by mosquitoes for egg laying. At intervals the liquid in the reservoir is flushed or filtered eliminating mosquito biomass developing in the liquid. The bio-matter is substantially removed and aborts the development of the bio-matter into adult insects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Inventor: Donald R. Hall
  • Patent number: 6569480
    Abstract: A process for extracting a fat from a feedstock (e.g., chocolate liquor), includes mixing the feedstock with a liquefied gas solvent (e.g., butane), filtering, washing the retentate with additional solvent, refiltering, drying, granulating, aerating the granulate, and separating the fat from the solvent in the original filtrate. The mixing, filtering, washing, refiltering, drying, and granulating are conducted under an atmosphere consisting essentially of the solvent vapor. An improved solvent extraction process includes repeatedly loading and unloading an extractor with solvent and feedstock to extract fat from the feedstock, wherein throughout loading, extracting, unloading and repeating: (a) a pressure in the extractor is continuously maintained above atmospheric pressure; (b) the extractor is continuously maintained under an oxygen-free atmosphere; and/or (c) the extractor is continuously maintained under an atmosphere consisting essentially of a vapor of the solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Inventors: Donald R. Hall, Michael R. Hall, Michael Moser, L. V. Benningfield, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20020160087
    Abstract: A process for extracting a fat from a feedstock (e.g., chocolate liquor), includes mixing the feedstock with a liquefied gas solvent (e.g., butane), filtering, washing the retentate with additional solvent, refiltering, drying, granulating, aerating the granulate, and separating the fat from the solvent in the original filtrate. The mixing, filtering, washing, refiltering, drying, and granulating are conducted under an atmosphere consisting essentially of the solvent vapor. An improved solvent extraction process includes repeatedly loading and unloading an extractor with solvent and feedstock to extract fat from the feedstock, wherein throughout loading, extracting, unloading and repeating: (a) a pressure in the extractor is continuously maintained above atmospheric pressure; (b) the extractor is continuously maintained under an oxygen-free atmosphere; and/or (c) the extractor is continuously maintained under an atmosphere consisting essentially of a vapor of the solvent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2001
    Publication date: October 31, 2002
    Inventors: Donald R. Hall, Michael R. Hall, Michael Moser, L.V. Benningfield
  • Publication number: 20020153419
    Abstract: A weather resistant modular sensor and computing platform reduces costs and enhances versatility of sensor systems. Rapidly evolving electronic technology results in hyper-obsolescence wherein sensor systems that are state of the art technology when designed, fall behind the art quickly as new transducers, batteries and components are developed. A cylindrical shaped modular system provides an architecture for up-grading sensors, batteries, special modules, communications, and control. A modular architecture extends the life cycle of a system and avoids hyper-obsolescence and the requirement to design a complete new system to incorporate new technology. Modularity and low cost manufacturing methods enable the practical definition of a cylindrical computer. The cylinder shaped enclosures have on their ends a common connection interface to which modules may be added. This provides a long system life cycle and wide ranging versatility. The size of the platform is not restricted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2002
    Publication date: October 24, 2002
    Inventor: Donald R. Hall
  • Publication number: 20020121045
    Abstract: An apparatus configured to provide standing water at convenient locations for the use of mosquitoes to lay eggs. After eggs are deposited in the development cycle of the egg, the larva, pupa, adult life stage are interrupted by denying the proper environment to sustain their development. Also disclosed is an apparatus to abate mosquito populations which provides a convenient and attractive reservoir of liquid situated to encourage use by mosquitoes for egg laying. At intervals the liquid in the reservoir is flushed or filtered eliminating mosquito biomass developing in the liquid. The bio-matter is substantially removed and aborts the development of the bio-matter into adult insects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2001
    Publication date: September 5, 2002
    Inventor: Donald R. Hall
  • Patent number: 6402031
    Abstract: A weather resistant modular sensor and computing platform reduces costs and enhances versatility of sensor systems. Rapidly evolving electronic technology results in hyper-obsolescence wherein sensor systems that are state of the art technology when designed, fall behind the art quickly as new transducers, batteries and components are developed. A cylindrical shaped modular system provides an architecture for up-grading sensors, batteries, special modules, communications, and control. A modular architecture extends the life cycle of a system and avoids hyper-obsolescence and the requirement to design a complete new system to incorporate new technology. Modularity and low cost manufacturing methods enable the practical definition of a cylindrical computer. The cylinder shaped enclosures have on their ends a common connection interface to which modules may be added. This provides a long system life cycle and wide ranging versatility. The size of the platform is not restricted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Inventor: Donald R Hall
  • Patent number: 5126728
    Abstract: A data processing security device, attached to computing equipment, inserts labels into a data stream that indicate security controls for the data. The security device may also be configured to detect security labels within a data stream and inhibit the flow of data. It also may replace data within a data stream if it detects labeled fields which indicate that privacy should be imposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1992
    Inventor: Donald R. Hall
  • Patent number: 4683122
    Abstract: A gas-liquid reactor includes a cylindrical vessel containing a liquid with a head space defined above the liquid surface, a submerged jet nozzle positioned on the vessel axis for injecting liquid and gas upwardly into the vessel, and at least two free jet nozzles positioned at the top of the vessel in the head space for injecting a liquid jet downwardly into the liquid in the vessel such that gas in the head space is entrained into the liquid jet and mixed into the liquid in the vessel. The reactor is provided with a cylindrical guide tube coaxial with the vessel sidewall and terminating below the liquid surface for directing circulation. A baffle system directs reactive gas rising from the liquid surface to the head space for entrainment in the liquid jet and directs reacted gas rising from the liquid surface to a vent. Diffuser tubes extend downwardly from each of the free jet nozzles into the liquid for delivering the gas-liquid mixture into the lower portion of the vessel outside the guide tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1987
    Assignee: Herzog-Hart Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph J. Concordia, Donald R. Hall
  • Patent number: 4310314
    Abstract: A reflected color simulator is disclosed which utilizes a plurality of color discs positioned adjacent to one another wherein each disc includes several individual sections which are interleaved with respect to the other color discs such that rotational movement of the discs with respect to one another will vary the percentage of color from each disc which contributes to the color displayed when the discs are spun together. The entire group of discs, which could be of any number but preferably 6 or 7, are rotated by a main drive device to mix the colors so exposed to form the desired color by reflected simulation. An observer when viewing the spinning group of color discs will see a reflected color which is determined by the exposed percentages of each color disc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1980
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1982
    Assignee: Applied Color Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip R. Worn, Ralph A. Stanziola, Donald R. Hall
  • Patent number: 4293915
    Abstract: A programmable electronic real-time load controller includes: a plurality of load control circuits, each being adapted to be interconnected with a load; a hardware clock; and, a programmed data processor for responding to real-time information from the hardware clock to effect control of the status of each load control circuit in accordance with a predetermined time schedule that has been entered into the data processor. The data processor includes: a CPU; a program memory; an event memory; and a plurality of ports which permit a plurality of devices, including a keyboard, a plurality of displays, and the hardware clock, to interchange information with the data processor. The event memory includes a plurality of event memory locations for storing one or more control events and corresponding event times for each load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1979
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1981
    Assignee: Pacific Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward J. Carpenter, William W. Korff, Alan E. Zoerb, deceased, Lawrence J. Barello, Donald R. Hall, Orlien N. Becker