Patents by Inventor Durval M. Tavares

Durval M. Tavares 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: 10557777
    Abstract: A sampling container apparatus for a remotely operated vehicle (“ROV”) is disclosed. An example sampling container includes a tank configured to hold a sample collected from an underwater environment. The tank includes at least one opening that contains a plunger therein. The plunger includes a contraction or retraction mechanism that pulls the plunger into the tank causing the plunger to actuate from an open position to a closed position. The plunger is retained in the open position by a retainer plate. To enable the plunger to actuate to the closed position, the tank is rotated relative to the retainer plate, causing the plunger to traverse a travel channel in the retainer plate. The travel channel includes a plunger window, which when reached by the plunger, enables the plunger to be pulled through the retainer plate, thereby sealing the opening of the tank and preserving the collected sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: Aquabotix Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Durval M. Tavares, Michael Aprea
  • Publication number: 20190011335
    Abstract: A sampling container apparatus for a remotely operated vehicle (“ROV”) is disclosed. An example sampling container includes a tank configured to hold a sample collected from an underwater environment. The tank includes at least one opening that contains a plunger therein. The plunger includes a contraction or retraction mechanism that pulls the plunger into the tank causing the plunger to actuate from an open position to a closed position. The plunger is retained in the open position by a retainer plate. To enable the plunger to actuate to the closed position, the tank is rotated relative to the retainer plate, causing the plunger to traverse a travel channel in the retainer plate. The travel channel includes a plunger window, which when reached by the plunger, enables the plunger to be pulled through the retainer plate, thereby sealing the opening of the tank and preserving the collected sample.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2018
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventors: Durval M. Tavares, Michael Aprea
  • Patent number: 10061320
    Abstract: A remotely operated vehicle (“ROV”) camera apparatus is disclosed. An ROV includes an anchor housing connected to a body of the ROV. The anchor housing includes a first magnet. The ROV also includes a camera connection housing configured to be rotatably connected to the anchor housing. The camera connection housing includes a connector cup configured to contact the anchor housing, a second magnet located inside the connector cup, the second magnet configured to magnetically couple to the first magnet, and a motor assembly including a motor configured to rotate a drive shaft, the drive shaft being connected to the magnet plate. The ROV further includes a camera device mechanically coupled to the camera connection housing. Actuation of the motor causes the connector cup to rotate with respect to the anchor housing causing the camera device to rotate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Aquabotix Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Durval M. Tavares, Michael Aprea, Joshua Michael Normandin
  • Publication number: 20180203449
    Abstract: A remotely operated vehicle (“ROV”) camera apparatus is disclosed. An ROV includes an anchor housing connected to a body of the ROV. The anchor housing includes a first magnet. The ROV also includes a camera connection housing configured to be rotatably connected to the anchor housing. The camera connection housing includes a connector cup configured to contact the anchor housing, a second magnet located inside the connector cup, the second magnet configured to magnetically couple to the first magnet, and a motor assembly including a motor configured to rotate a drive shaft, the drive shaft being connected to the magnet plate. The ROV further includes a camera device mechanically coupled to the camera connection housing. Actuation of the motor causes the connector cup to rotate with respect to the anchor housing causing the camera device to rotate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2017
    Publication date: July 19, 2018
    Inventors: Durval M. Tavares, Michael Aprea, Joshua Michael Normandin
  • Patent number: 5515537
    Abstract: A method of data sharing between processors on the same network utilizes en migration for providing a data locking mechanism. A token migrates between the processors for each original data item and its replicas. Only the processor having possession of the token can perform certain operations such as updating and transmitting this updated information to the other processors. Two different queuing arrangements are described for giving up or retaining possession of the token when a processor, not in possession of the token makes a request for the token.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1996
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Carlos M. Tavares, Durval M. Tavares
  • Patent number: 5307487
    Abstract: A system for updating and reading a data base utilizes a pair of counters ere one counter is incremented prior to an update and the other is incremented following an update. The system permits the updating to take place at any time. By keeping track of the value of the counters the system either inhibits the reading from taking place during the updating if the updating commenced prior to the commencement of the reading or provides information that an updating occurred during the reading if the reading commenced prior to the commencement of the updating. The counters and data base are located within the RAM of a computer. The system has a first application program that gives information to a second application program via these RAM based components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1994
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Carlos M. Tavares, Durval M. Tavares, Donald R. Caron, John B. Bagley
  • Patent number: 5247684
    Abstract: A system for updating and reading a data base utilizes a pair of counters rking in conjunction with registers located within RAM to enable one upon reading the data base to know if a data base record has been added, deleted, or revised. The system also notifies if the data base is being updated on attempting a read process or during the reading. The updating is performed by a writer that is never inhibited from updating the data base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1993
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Carlos M. Tavares, Durval M. Tavares