Patents by Inventor Erik Miller

Erik Miller 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: 10527106
    Abstract: A wire conveying mechanism, preferably for a welding, cladding or additive manufacturing apparatus, with a slip clutch mechanism connectable to a motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: William Giese, Erik Miller
  • Publication number: 20200002765
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods, compositions, and systems for distributing molecules and complexes into reaction sites. In particular, the methods, compositions, and systems of the present invention result in loading of polymerase enzyme complexes into a predetermined number of reaction sites, including nanoscale wells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Inventors: Jaime Juan Benitez-Marzan, Natasha Popovich, Lei Sun, Satwik Kamtekar, Keith Bjornson, Jeremiah Hanes, Karl Voss, Erik Miller, Thomas Linsky, Leewin Chern
  • Patent number: 10518360
    Abstract: An enclosure for a laser in which on side of the enclosure includes a rotatable positioner and a vertically slidable door movable between open and closed positions. With the door in the open position, the positioner is free to rotate, thereby enabling an workstation to rotate into and out of the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Brown, William R. Giese, Erik Miller
  • Publication number: 20190390177
    Abstract: Provided are compositions comprising recombinant DNA polymerases that include amino acid substitutions, insertions, deletions, and/or exogenous features that confer modified properties upon the polymerase for enhanced single molecule sequencing. Such properties include increased resistance to photodamage, and can also include enhanced metal ion coordination, reduced exonuclease activity, reduced reaction rates at one or more steps of the polymerase kinetic cycle, decreased branching fraction, altered cofactor selectivity, increased yield, increased thermostability, increased accuracy, increased speed, increased readlength, and the like. Also provided are nucleic acids which encode the polymerases with the aforementioned phenotypes, as well as methods of using such polymerases to make a DNA or to sequence a DNA template.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2019
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Inventors: Satwik Kamtekar, Arek Bibillo, Keith Bjornson, Fred Christians, Colleen Cutcliffe, Jeremiah Hanes, Lei Jia, Walter Lee, Erik Miller, Pranav Patel
  • Publication number: 20190249153
    Abstract: Provided are compositions comprising recombinant DNA polymerases that include amino acid substitutions, insertions, deletions, and/or exogenous features that confer modified properties upon the polymerase for enhanced single molecule sequencing. Such properties can include enhanced metal ion coordination, reduced exonuclease activity, reduced reaction rates at one or more steps of the polymerase kinetic cycle, decreased branching fraction, altered cofactor selectivity, increased yield, increased thermostability, increased accuracy, increased speed, increased readlength, and the like. Also provided are nucleic acids which encode the polymerases with the aforementioned phenotypes, as well as methods of using such polymerases to make a DNA or to sequence a DNA template.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Inventors: Satwik Kamtekar, Lei Jia, Robin Emig, Erik Miller, Walter H. Lee, Molly He, Insil Park
  • Publication number: 20190249237
    Abstract: Compositions comprising covalently modified and mutated biotin-binding proteins, particularly biotin-binding proteins having a negative charge at physiological pH, are provided. Methods of producing such proteins are also provided, as are methods of immobilizing, sequencing, and making nucleic acids employing such proteins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Inventors: Satwik Kamtekar, Lubomir Sebo, Leewin Chern, Thomas Linsky, Jeremiah Hanes, Erik Miller, Ying Yang, Stephen Yue
  • Patent number: 10358634
    Abstract: Provided are compositions comprising recombinant DNA polymerases that include amino acid substitutions, insertions, deletions, and/or exogenous features that confer modified properties upon the polymerase for enhanced single molecule sequencing. Such properties include increased resistance to photodamage, and can also include enhanced metal ion coordination, reduced exonuclease activity, reduced reaction rates at one or more steps of the polymerase kinetic cycle, decreased branching fraction, altered cofactor selectivity, increased yield, increased thermostability, increased accuracy, increased speed, increased readlength, and the like. Also provided are nucleic acids which encode the polymerases with the aforementioned phenotypes, as well as methods of using such polymerases to make a DNA or to sequence a DNA template.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: Pacific Biosciences of California, Inc.
    Inventors: Satwik Kamtekar, Lei Jia, Walter Lee, Erik Miller, Pranav Patel
  • Patent number: 10280411
    Abstract: Provided are compositions comprising recombinant polymerases that include amino acid substitutions, insertions, deletions, and/or exogenous features that confer modified properties upon the polymerase for sequencing RNA or RNA/DNA templates. Polymerases that topologically encircle the template nucleic acid are provided. Also provided are methods of using such polymerases to make a DNA or to sequence a template comprising RNA.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Pacific Biosciences of California, In.c
    Inventors: Satwik Kamtekar, Jeremiah Hanes, Erik Miller
  • Publication number: 20190127791
    Abstract: Sets of compounds bearing detectably different groups of labels are provided. Typically, different compounds bear different numbers of a single type of label and are thus distinguishable by the amplitude of signal produced by the label. The compounds are assembled from label components and protein cores to facilitate modular production of the compounds. In compounds containing two or more proteins, the proteins are typically covalently linked. Useful sets of compounds include sets of labeled nucleotide analogs, particularly dye-label nucleotide analogs that include tetravalent biotin-binding protein cores.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2018
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Inventors: Erik Miller, Satwik Kamtekar
  • Publication number: 20190076967
    Abstract: A method for controlling a start of a metalworking operation. The method includes detecting an initial contact between a wire being fed from a welding apparatus and a workpiece and, in response to the detection, halting feeding of the wire from the welding apparatus. The method further includes activating a high energy heat source configured to heat a tip of the wire and resuming the feeding of the wire from the welding apparatus when the tip of the wire is heated by the high energy heat source to a plastic state. The feeding of the wire is resumed by measuring a force feedback from the wire contacting the workpiece. An apparatus for implementing the method is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2018
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Inventors: Dustin Wagner, William Giese, Rick Hutchison, Erik Miller, James Uecker
  • Publication number: 20190062833
    Abstract: Methods, compositions, and systems are provided that allow for reliable sequencing of the initial sequence region of a sequence of interest. The methods of the invention allow for more reliable barcoding of subpopulations of nucleic acids to be sequenced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Inventors: Tyson A. Clark, Jonas Korlach, Cheryl Heiner, Kevin Travers, Erik Miller
  • Publication number: 20190061039
    Abstract: A welding-type system includes a power supply configured to control preheating of an electrode wire. A controller is configured to receive a plurality of power values corresponding to a power output of the power supply and calculate an arc power value corresponding to an arc condition at the preheated electrode wire based on a rate of change of the plurality of power values. A target power output value is determined based on the calculated arc power value, and the power output is adjusted based on the determined target power value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2017
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Inventors: Brian Doyle, Shuang Liu, Erik Miller, Adam E. Anders
  • Publication number: 20190010183
    Abstract: Compositions, methods, and systems are provided for fluorescent polymerase enzyme substrates comprising protein shields for improving enzyme photostability in single molecule real time sequencing. Fluorescent polymerase enzyme substrates of the invention have a protein shield between the fluorescent dye moieties and nucleotide moieties of the polymerase enzyme substrate. The polymerase enzyme substrates have a nucleotide component and a dye component, each attached to a protein. The attachments can be covalent. The protein can, for example, prevent the direct interaction of the fluorescent dye moiety with the enzyme when carrying out nucleotide synthesis, preventing photodamage to the enzyme. The polymerase enzyme substrates of the invention can have multiple dyes and multiple nucleotide moieties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2018
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventors: Keith Bjornson, Jeremiah Hanes, Erik Miller, Satwik Kamtekar, Lubomir Sebo, Louis Brogley
  • Patent number: 10173288
    Abstract: A method for controlling a start of a metalworking operation. The method includes detecting an initial contact between a wire being fed from a welding apparatus and a workpiece and, in response to the detection, halting feeding of the wire from the welding apparatus. The method further includes activating a high energy heat source configured to heat a tip of the wire and resuming the feeding of the wire from the welding apparatus when the tip of the wire is heated by the high energy heat source to a plastic state. The feeding of the wire is resumed by measuring a force feedback from the wire contacting the workpiece. An apparatus for implementing the method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Dustin Wagner, William Giese, Rick Hutchison, Erik Miller, James Uecker
  • Patent number: 10167455
    Abstract: Provided are compositions comprising recombinant DNA polymerases that include amino acid substitutions, insertions, deletions, and/or exogenous features that confer modified properties upon the polymerase for enhanced single molecule sequencing. Such properties can include enhanced metal ion coordination, reduced exonuclease activity, reduced reaction rates at one or more steps of the polymerase kinetic cycle, decreased branching fraction, altered cofactor selectivity, increased yield, increased thermostability, increased accuracy, increased speed, increased readlength, and the like. Also provided are nucleic acids which encode the polymerases with the aforementioned phenotypes, as well as methods of using such polymerases to make a DNA or to sequence a DNA template.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Pacific Biosciences of California, Inc.
    Inventors: Satwik Kamtekar, Lei Jia, Robin Emig, Erik Miller, Walter H. Lee
  • Publication number: 20180354075
    Abstract: A laser processing head includes first and second contact points connected to a power source. The power source generates a current to flow through an electrode wire between the first and second contact points to heat the electrode wire. A laser source generates one or more laser beams having lasing power sufficient to at least partially melt the electrode wire. A coaxial laser head focuses the one or more laser beams at one or more focal points on a workpiece to at least partially melt the electrode wire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2018
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Inventors: Shuang Liu, Erik Miller
  • Publication number: 20180298323
    Abstract: Acoustic perfusion devices and processes for separating biomolecules from other material in a fluid mixture are disclosed. The devices include an inlet port, an outlet port, and a collection port that are connected to an acoustic chamber. An ultrasonic transducer creates an acoustic standing wave in the acoustic chamber that permits a continuous flow of fluid to be recovered through the collection port while keeping the biological cells within the acoustic chamber to be returned to the bioreactor from which the fluid mixture is being drawn.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2018
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventors: BART LIPKENS, BENJAMIN ROSS-JOHNSRUD, ERIK MILLER, MARK BROWER
  • Patent number: 10081836
    Abstract: Methods, compositions, and systems are provided that allow for reliable sequencing of the initial sequence region of a sequence of interest. The methods of the invention allow for more reliable barcoding of subpopulations of nucleic acids to be sequenced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Pacific Biosciences of California, Inc.
    Inventors: Tyson A. Clark, Jonas Korlach, Cheryl Heiner, Kevin Travers, Erik Miller
  • Patent number: RE47177
    Abstract: Provided are compositions comprising recombinant DNA polymerases that include amino acid substitutions, insertions, deletions, and/or exogenous features that confer modified properties upon the polymerase for enhanced single molecule sequencing. Such properties include increased resistance to photodamage, and can also include enhanced metal ion coordination, reduced exonuclease activity, reduced reaction rates at one or more steps of the polymerase kinetic cycle, decreased branching fraction, altered cofactor selectivity, increased yield, increased thermostability, increased accuracy, increased speed, increased readlength, and the like. Also provided are nucleic acids which encode the polymerases with the aforementioned phenotypes, as well as methods of using such polymerases to make a DNA or to sequence a DNA template.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Pacific Biosciences of California, Inc.
    Inventors: Satwik Kamtekar, Arek Bibillo, Keith Bjornson, Fred Christians, Colleen Cutcliffe, Jeremiah Hanes, Lei Jia, Walter Lee, Erik Miller, Pranav Patel
  • Patent number: RE47476
    Abstract: Provided are compositions comprising recombinant DNA polymerases that include amino acid substitutions, insertions, deletions, and/or exogenous features that confer modified properties upon the polymerase for enhanced single molecule sequencing. Such properties include increased resistance to photodamage, and can also include enhanced metal ion coordination, reduced exonuclease activity, reduced reaction rates at one or more steps of the polymerase kinetic cycle, decreased branching fraction, altered cofactor selectivity, increased yield, increased thermostability, increased accuracy, increased speed, increased readlength, and the like. Also provided are nucleic acids which encode the polymerases with the aforementioned phenotypes, as well as methods of using such polymerases to make a DNA or to sequence a DNA template.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Pacific Biosciences of California, Inc.
    Inventors: Satwik Kamtekar, Arek Bibillo, Walter Lee, Erik Miller, Insil Park