Patents by Inventor Francois Gravel

Francois Gravel 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).

  • Publication number: 20230202417
    Abstract: A vehicle partition assembly for installing in a vehicle. The assembly includes a partition configured to connect to an interior of the vehicle, the partition having an opening defined therein, and a door selectively moveable between at least an open position and a closed position. The door includes a door body slidably connected to the partition, and a door panel selectively moveable relative to the door body between at least an extended position and a retracted position. With the door in the closed position, the door panel is in extended position, and the door selectively closes the opening. With the door in the open position, the door panel is in the collapsed position, and the opening is uncovered to allow passage of a user therethrough.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2022
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Inventor: Francois GRAVEL
  • Publication number: 20220018771
    Abstract: There is described a method for detecting a given gas species present in a gaseous sample. The method generally has splitting a primary optical pulse into first and second optical pulses, the primary optical pulse having a duration and carrying optical power within an excitation spectrum encompassing at least one absorption spectral band of the given gas species, the first optical pulse being propagated across an optical gas filter unit containing an amount of the given gas species and attenuating the first optical pulse at the at least one absorption band, one of i) the primary optical pulse and ii) the first and second optical pulses being propagated across the gaseous sample, and temporally delaying the first and second optical pulses from one another; measuring signal values of the delayed optical pulses; and detecting the presence of the given gas species in the gaseous sample based on the signal values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2020
    Publication date: January 20, 2022
    Inventors: François BABIN, Jean-François GRAVEL, Pascal DUFOUR
  • Publication number: 20210373651
    Abstract: A system and method for remotely controlling a plurality of apparatuses comprising a user interface configured to select a group of apparatuses from the plurality of apparatuses, execute actions to control an apparatus and a controller in communication with the user interface, the controller being configured to dynamically and operatively connect the user interface to one of the apparatuses of a group of apparatuses, the connection allowing the user interface to operatively control the apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2021
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Inventor: Francois Gravel
  • Patent number: 10437896
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided in which a content guide includes one or more tags associated with a single user, a group of users or a channel subscribed to by users that enables the retrieval of content for subsequent viewing and which can be supplemented by recommendations and data from other sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: DIVX, LLC
    Inventors: Kourosh Soroushian, Daniel Salmonsen, Porfirio Landeros, Shaiwal Priyadarshi, Francois Gravel
  • Publication number: 20190302084
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus are presented for monitoring a concentration of a specific halogen in a body of water such as a spa or bathing unit for example. The apparatus comprises a housing in which is positioned an optical absorption analyzer for making first and second measurement of transmission of ultraviolet light from a light source emitting light at a specific wavelength. The second and first measurements are taken respectively before and after the ultraviolet light has travelled through a sample of water and are used to derive a concentration of the specific halogen. The derived concentration may then be communicated to a user using a display device and/or may be used to control operational components of a bathing unit for adjusting the concentration of halogen in the water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2019
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Inventors: Benoit LAFLAMME, André VILLEMAIRE, Jean-François GRAVEL, Serge CARON
  • Patent number: 10371685
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus are presented for monitoring a concentration of a specific halogen in a body of water such as a spa or bathing unit for example. The apparatus comprises a housing in which is positioned an optical absorption analyzer for making first and second measurement of transmission of ultraviolet light from a light source emitting light at a specific wavelength. The second and first measurements are taken respectively before and after the ultraviolet light has travelled through a sample of water and are used to derive a concentration of the specific halogen. The derived concentration may then be communicated to a user using a display device and/or may be used to control operational components of a bathing unit for adjusting the concentration of halogen in the water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: GECKO ALLIANCE GROUP INC.
    Inventors: Benoit Laflamme, André Villemaire, Jean-François Gravel, Serge Caron
  • Publication number: 20190154649
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus are presented for monitoring a concentration of a specific halogen in a body of water such as a spa or bathing unit for example. The apparatus comprises a housing in which is positioned an optical absorption analyzer for making first and second measurement of transmission of ultraviolet light from a light source emitting light at a specific wavelength. The second and first measurements are taken respectively before and after the ultraviolet light has travelled through a sample of water and are used to derive a concentration of the specific halogen. The derived concentration may then be communicated to a user using a display device and/or may be used to control operational components of a bathing unit for adjusting the concentration of halogen in the water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2019
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Inventors: Benoit LAFLAMME, André VILLEMAIRE, Jean-François GRAVEL, Serge CARON
  • Patent number: 10228359
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus are presented for monitoring a concentration of a specific halogen in a body of water such as a spa or bathing unit for example. The apparatus comprises a housing in which is positioned an optical absorption analyzer for making first and second measurement of transmission of ultraviolet light from a light source emitting light at a specific wavelength. The second and first measurements are taken respectively before and after the ultraviolet light has travelled through a sample of water and are used to derive a concentration of the specific halogen. The derived concentration may then be communicated to a user using a display device and/or may be used to control operational components of a bathing unit for adjusting the concentration of halogen in the water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: GECKO ALLIANCE GROUP INC.
    Inventors: Benoit Laflamme, André Villemaire, Jean-François Gravel, Serge Caron
  • Patent number: 10113953
    Abstract: The method of determining the presence of a spill of a petroleum product by the detection of a petroleum-derived volatile organic compound (VOC) generally has a step of providing an ultraviolet (UV) radiation generator and a receiver assembly aimed at a scene; a step of illuminating a distant target in the scene with a UV radiation beam, the UV radiation beam having an excitation wavelength being tuned to a resonance Raman excitation wavelength of the petroleum derived VOC; a step of receiving a return signal from the distant target; and a step of determining the presence of the petroleum-derived VOC upon detecting Raman scattering in the received return signal, the Raman scattering being indicative of a resonance Raman interaction between the UV radiation beam and molecules of the petroleum-derived VOC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Inventors: François Babin, Jean-François Gravel, Pascal Dufour
  • Patent number: 10101274
    Abstract: An interrogation device for detecting luminescent light produced by analytes in a sample excited by multiple excitation light beams each having individual spectral contents, comprising a plurality of light sources each generating an excitation light beam; at least one detector for detecting the luminescent light produced by the sample; and an optical assembly defining distinct and fixed excitation light paths for each of the excitation light beams from the light sources to a common excitation site on the sample and defining a shared luminescence light path for the luminescent light from the excitation site on sample to the at least one detector, the excitation light paths and the luminescence light path being on a same side of the sample, the optical assembly including sample-side optics projecting the excitation light towards the sample and collecting luminescent light from the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignees: GenePOC INC., Universite Laval
    Inventors: Hugo Lemieux, Sébastien Chapdelaine, David Béliveau-Viel, Jean-François Gravel
  • Patent number: 10094782
    Abstract: The invention discloses an apparatus and method for use with Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) systems that can be applied to the real time analysis of various materials. The invention, in one aspect, provides a layer-by-layer method to remove the undesired coating layer of a material in which a pulsed laser is coupled with high speed scanning optics. To prepare the surface for LIBS, (i) a pulsed laser beam is scanned over an area of the surface to ablate the surface coating layer; (ii) the laser parameters are changed (i.e. pulse duration is made smaller) and the area scanned again to polish the surface; and (iii) the laser parameters are changed again (i.e. pulse duration is made smaller yet again) and the area scanned again with spectrometric analysis of the plasma plume created by the laser (i.e. LIBS is performed).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: National Research Council of Canada
    Inventors: Francois Doucet, Mohamad Sabsabi, Lutfu-Celebi Ozcan, Jean-Francois Gravel, Francis Boismenu
  • Publication number: 20180267007
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus are presented for monitoring a concentration of a specific halogen in a body of water such as a spa or bathing unit for example. The apparatus comprises a housing in which is positioned an optical absorption analyzer for making first and second measurement of transmission of ultraviolet light from a light source emitting light at a specific wavelength. The second and first measurements are taken respectively before and after the ultraviolet light has travelled through a sample of water and are used to derive a concentration of the specific halogen. The derived concentration may then be communicated to a user using a display device and/or may be used to control operational components of a bathing unit for adjusting the concentration of halogen in the water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2017
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Benoit LAFLAMME, André Villemaire, Jean-François Gravel, Serge CARON
  • Publication number: 20180052100
    Abstract: The method of determining the presence of a spill of a petroleum product by the detection of a petroleum-derived volatile organic compound (VOC) generally has a step of providing an ultraviolet (UV) radiation generator and a receiver assembly aimed at a scene; a step of illuminating a distant target in the scene with a UV radiation beam, the UV radiation beam having an excitation wavelength being tuned to a resonance Raman excitation wavelength of the petroleum derived VOC; a step of receiving a return signal from the distant target; and a step of determining the presence of the petroleum-derived VOC upon detecting Raman scattering in the received return signal, the Raman scattering being indicative of a resonance Raman interaction between the UV radiation beam and molecules of the petroleum-derived VOC.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2017
    Publication date: February 22, 2018
    Inventors: François BABIN, Jean-François GRAVEL, Pascal DUFOUR
  • Patent number: 9880037
    Abstract: There is described a method for remotely monitoring an exhaust plume emitted by an exhaust stack, the method comprising: determining a velocity of a flow of the exhaust plume at an output of the exhaust stack, the exhaust plume comprising one molecule; propagating a first light within the exhaust plume, the first light being propagated in close proximity to the output of the exhaust stack; detecting a second light emitted by the exhaust plume and measuring an energy of the second light, the second light resulting from an interaction of the first light with the exhaust plume; and determining a mass emission rate of the at least one molecule using the measured energy of the detected second light, the velocity, and a surface area of the exhaust plume at the output of the exhaust stack, the surface area being orthogonal to a direction of the flow of the exhaust plume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: INSTITUT NATIONAL D'OPTIQUE
    Inventors: François Babin, Jean-François Gravel
  • Patent number: 9808143
    Abstract: An optogenetic probe, an optogenetic system, and a method for fabricating an optogenetic probe are provided. The optogenetic probe has a proximal and a distal end, and includes an elongated body made of a body glass material and extending longitudinally between the proximal and distal ends. The optogenetic probe also includes at least one optical channel, each including an optical channel glass material having a refractive index larger than a refractive index of the body glass material, so as to guide light therealong. The optogenetic probes also includes at least one electrical channel, each including an electrical channel structure having an electrical conductivity larger than the electrical conductivity of the body glass material, so as to conduct electricity therealong. The optogenetic probe further includes at least one fluidic channel, each adapted for transporting fluid therealong. Each optical, electrical and fluidic channel extends longitudinally within the elongated body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: UNIVERSITE LAVAL
    Inventors: Jean-François Viens, Jean-François Gravel, Younès Messaddeq, Yannick Ledemi, Maxime Rioux
  • Publication number: 20170223389
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided in which a content guide includes one or more tags associated with a single user, a group of users or a channel subscribed to by users that enables the retrieval of content for subsequent viewing and which can be supplemented by recommendations and data from other sources.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2017
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Applicant: Sonic IP, Inc.
    Inventors: Kourosh Soroushian, Daniel Salmonsen, Porfirio Landeros, Shaiwal Priyadarshi, Francois Gravel
  • Publication number: 20170167982
    Abstract: The invention discloses an apparatus and method for use with Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) systems that can be applied to the real time analysis of various materials. The invention, in one aspect, provides a layer-by-layer method to remove the undesired coating layer of a material in which a pulsed laser is coupled with high speed scanning optics. To prepare the surface for LIBS, (i) a pulsed laser beam is scanned over an area of the surface to ablate the surface coating layer; (ii) the laser parameters are changed (i.e. pulse duration is made smaller) and the area scanned again to polish the surface; and (iii) the laser parameters are changed again (i.e. pulse duration is made smaller yet again) and the area scanned again with spectrometric analysis of the plasma plume created by the laser (i.e. LIBS is performed).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Applicant: NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL OF CANADA
    Inventors: Francois DOUCET, Mohamad SABSABI, Lutfu-Celebi OZCAN, Jean-Francois GRAVEL, Francis BOISMENU
  • Patent number: 9672286
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided in which a content guide includes one or more tags associated with a single user, a group of users or a channel subscribed to by users that enables the retrieval of content for subsequent viewing and which can be supplemented by recommendations and data from other sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Sonic IP, Inc.
    Inventors: Kourosh Soroushian, Daniel Salmonsen, Porfirio Landeros, Shaiwal Priyadarshi, Francois Gravel
  • Publication number: 20160131514
    Abstract: There is described a method for remotely monitoring an exhaust plume emitted by an exhaust stack, the method comprising: determining a velocity of a flow of the exhaust plume at an output of the exhaust stack, the exhaust plume comprising one molecule; propagating a first light within the exhaust plume, the first light being propagated in close proximity to the output of the exhaust stack; detecting a second light emitted by the exhaust plume and measuring an energy of the second light, the second light resulting from an interaction of the first light with the exhaust plume; and determining a mass emission rate of the at least one molecule using the measured energy of the detected second light, the velocity, and a surface area of the exhaust plume at the output of the exhaust stack, the surface area being orthogonal to a direction of the flow of the exhaust plume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2015
    Publication date: May 12, 2016
    Inventors: François BABIN, Jean-François GRAVEL
  • Publication number: 20160048593
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided in which a content guide includes one or more tags associated with a single user, a group of users or a channel subscribed to by users that enables the retrieval of content for subsequent viewing and which can be supplemented by recommendations and data from other sources.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Publication date: February 18, 2016
    Applicant: Sonic IP, Inc.
    Inventors: Kourosh Soroushian, Daniel Salmonsen, Porfirio Landeros, Shaiwal Priyadarshi, Francois Gravel