Patents by Inventor G. A. Zimmerman

G. A. Zimmerman 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: 20240001415
    Abstract: Films and articles are described comprising a microstructured surface having an array of peak structures and adjacent valleys. For improved cleanability, the valleys preferably have a maximum width ranging from 10 microns to 250 microns and the peak structures have a side wall angle greater than 10 degrees. The peak structures may comprise two or more facets such as in the case of a linear array of prisms or an array of cube-corners elements. The facets form continuous or semi-continuous surfaces in the same direction. The valleys typically lack intersecting walls. Also described are methods of making and methods of use. The microstructured surface of the article can be prepared by various microreplication techniques such as coating, injection molding, embossing, laser etching, extrusion, casting and curing a polymerizable resin; and bonding microstructured film to a surface or article with an adhesive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2022
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Inventors: Jodi L. Connell, Raymond P. Johnston, John J. Sullivan, Karl J.L. Geisler, Vivian W. Jones, Gordon A. Kuhnley, Patrick G. Zimmerman, Bradley W. Eaton, Kurt J. Halverson, Brian W. Lueck, Alexandr C. Eldredge, Hyacinth L. Lechuga, Lynn E. Lorimor, Diane R. Wolk, Junia M. Pereira, Caroline M. Yitalo, Linda W. Suszko, Daniel J. Rogers, Bryon A. Mrrill
  • Publication number: 20230405915
    Abstract: Films and articles are described comprising a microstructured surface having an array of peak structures and adjacent valleys. For improved cleanability, the valleys preferably have a maximum width ranging from 10 microns to 250 microns and the peak structures have a side wall angle greater than 10 degrees. The peak structures may comprise two or more facets such as in the case of a linear array of prisms or an array of cube-corners elements. The facets form continuous or semi-continuous surfaces in the same direction. The valleys typically lack intersecting walls. Also described are methods of making and methods of use. The microstructured surface of the article can be prepared by various microreplication techniques such as coating, injection molding, embossing, laser etching, extrusion, casting and curing a polymerizable resin; and bonding microstructured film to a surface or article with an adhesive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2023
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Inventors: Jodi L. Connell, Raymond P. Johnston, John J. Sullivan, Karl J.L. Geisler, Vivian W. Jones, Gordon A. Kuhnley, Patrick G. Zimmerman, Bradley W. Eaton, Kurt J. Halverson, Brian W. Lueck, Alexander C. Eldredge, Hyacinth L. Lechuga
  • Patent number: 11766822
    Abstract: Films and articles are described comprising a microstructured surface having an array of peak structures and adjacent valleys. For improved cleanability, the valleys preferably have a maximum width ranging from 10 microns to 250 microns and the peak structures have a side wall angle greater than 10 degrees. The peak structures may comprise two or more facets such as in the case of a linear array of prisms or an array of cube-corners elements. The facets form continuous or semi-continuous surfaces in the same direction. The valleys typically lack intersecting walls. Also described are methods of making and methods of use. The microstructured surface of the article can be prepared by various microreplication techniques such as coating, injection molding, embossing, laser etching, extrusion, casting and curing a polymerizable resin; and bonding microstructured film to a surface or article with an adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Jodi L. Connell, Raymond P. Johnston, John J. Sullivan, Karl J. L. Geisler, Vivian W. Jones, Gordon A. Kuhnley, Patrick G. Zimmerman, Bradley W. Eaton, Kurt J. Halverson, Brian W. Lueck, Alexander C. Eldredge, Hyacinth L. Lechuga
  • Patent number: 11452446
    Abstract: An ophthalmic device having a single or dual compartment configuration selectively emits infrared and visible light beams onto one or a pair of target eyes. The device performs eye fundus imaging and aids in the detection of ailments as indicated by anomalies in the pupillary reflex.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Alexandros Karargyris, Thomas G. Zimmerman
  • Publication number: 20220163951
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for optimizing a process of manufacturing a product. In one aspect, the method comprises repeatedly performing the following: i) selecting a configuration of input settings for manufacturing a product, based on a causal model that measures causal relationships between input settings and a measure of a quality of the product; ii) determining the measure of the quality of the product manufactured using the configuration of input settings; and iii) adjusting, based on the measure of the quality of the product manufactured using the configuration of input settings, the causal model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2019
    Publication date: May 26, 2022
    Inventors: Brian E. Brooks, Gilles J. Benoit, Peter O. Olson, Tyler W. Olson, Himanshu Nayar, Frederick J. Arsenault, Nicholas A. Johnson, Brett R. Hemes, Thomas J. Strey, Jonathan B. Arthur, Nathan J. Herbst, Aaron K. Nienaber, Sarah M. Mullins, Mark W. Orlando, Cory D. Sauer, Timothy J. Clemens, Scott L. Barnett, Zachary M. Schaeffer, Patrick G. Zimmerman, Gregory P. Moriarty, Jeffrey P. Adolf, Steven P. Floeder, Andreas Backes, Peter J. Schneider, Maureen A. Kavanagh, Glenn E. Casner, Miaoding Dai, Christopher M. Brown, Lori A. Sjolund, Jon A. Kirschhoffer, Carter C. Hughes
  • Patent number: 11288590
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product for automatically generating training sets for machine learning. A set of topics to train a machine learning system is provided. A set of subject matter expert follower sites is identified. Each of the subject matter expert follower sites is about a respective topic of the set of topics and allows followers to post content. The content posted by followers of a respective subject matter expert follower site on the internet is retrieved. The retrieved follower posted content is used to train the machine learning to recognize common features of the retrieved follower posted content of followers having an interest in a respective topic of the set of topics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas G Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 11229358
    Abstract: An ophthalmic device having a single or dual compartment configuration selectively emits infrared and visible light beams onto one or a pair of target eyes. The device performs eye fundus imaging and aids in the detection of ailments as indicated by anomalies in the pupillary reflex.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Alexandros Karargyris, Thomas G. Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 11197606
    Abstract: An ophthalmic device having a single or dual compartment configuration selectively emits infrared and visible light beams onto one or a pair of target eyes. The device performs eye fundus imaging and aids in the detection of ailments as indicated by anomalies in the pupillary reflex.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Alexandros Karargyris, Thomas G. Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 11150187
    Abstract: A system is provided for performing metal trace analysis on a liquid sample. A sample holder holds an analysis substrate that includes a reference region and at least one test region. An ultraviolet (UV) light source emits ultraviolet light illuminating the liquid sample. An optical sensor detects radiation emanating from the liquid sample and converting the detected radiation into an electrical signal. A microcontroller processes the electrical signal. An external interface transmits the processed electrical signal to an external device. The analysis substrate is configured for manual movement by a user. A tracking system detects a sample scanning location for the metal trace analysis, and includes a light source, other than the UV light source, and another optical sensor. The other optical sensor detects light emitted by the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael Engel, Jeannette M. Garcia, Ricardo L. Ohta, Ademir F. Silva, Mathias B. Steiner, Jaione Tirapu Azpiroz, Thomas G. Zimmerman
  • Publication number: 20210187819
    Abstract: Films and articles are described comprising a microstructured surface having an array of peak structures and adjacent valleys. For improved cleanability, the valleys preferably have a maximum width ranging from 10 microns to 250 microns and the peak structures have a side wall angle greater than 10 degrees. The peak structures may comprise two or more facets such as in the case of a linear array of prisms or an array of cube-corners elements. The facets form continuous or semi-continuous surfaces in the same direction. The valleys typically lack intersecting walls. Also described are methods of making and methods of use. The microstructured surface of the article can be prepared by various microreplication techniques such as coating, injection molding, embossing, laser etching, extrusion, casting and curing a polymerizable resin; and bonding microstructured film to a surface or article with an adhesive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2021
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Inventors: Jodi L. Connell, Raymond P. Johnston, John J. Sullivan, Karl J.L. Geisler, Vivian W. Jones, Gordon A. Kuhnley, Patrick G. Zimmerman, Bradley W. Eaton, Kurt J. Halverson, Brian W. Lueck, Alexander C. Eldredge, Hyacinth L. Lechuga
  • Patent number: 11027307
    Abstract: Nozzles are provided, for applying setting resins onto the edge of a panel, in some embodiments the cut edge of a panel such as a honeycomb panel. The nozzle comprises a connector portion and an application head, wherein the application head comprises: a) a supporting wall, and b) a curved finish wall joining the supporting wall along an edge at an angle of greater than 92 degrees and less than 120 degrees. In some embodiments, the curved finish wall has a curve radius which remains between 1.0 and 7.0 cm throughout the length of the curved finish wall. In some embodiments, the curved finish wall has a trailing edge profile which is smoothly curved and a leading edge profile which is scalloped. In addition, methods of applying a setting resin onto the edge of a panel are presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Alvaro S. Domenighi, Kim L. Gustafson, Patrick G. Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 10986228
    Abstract: A method, system, and a computer program product are provided for monitoring an emotional state of a conversation by monitoring a communication between first and second persons to determine an emotional state of the communication, providing a visual representation of the emotional state of the communication for display to a person having access to the communication, and performing an intervention action to improve the emotional state of the communication in response to detecting the emotional state of the communication meets one or more specified intervention criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas G. Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 10827923
    Abstract: An ophthalmic device having a single or dual compartment configuration selectively emits infrared and visible light beams onto one or a pair of target eyes. The device performs eye fundus imaging and aids in the detection of ailments as indicated by anomalies in the pupillary reflex.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Alexandros Karargyris, Thomas G. Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 10810759
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method according to one embodiment includes identifying a plurality of two-dimensional (2D) images illustrating a subject performing a rotation, selecting a representative image of the subject, cropping the plurality of 2D images, utilizing the representative image of the subject, to create a cropped plurality of 2D images, aligning each of the cropped plurality of 2D images, thereby creating an aligned plurality of 2D images, selecting a subset of the aligned plurality of 2D images that illustrate a predetermined amount of rotation of the subject, and creating a three-dimensional (3D) point cloud of the subject, utilizing the subset of the aligned plurality of 2D images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignees: International Business Machines Corporation, The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Thomas G. Zimmerman, Simone Bianco, Rebecca M. McGillivary, Wallace F. Marshall
  • Patent number: 10805464
    Abstract: A method, system, and a computer program product are provided for monitoring an emotional state of a conversation by monitoring a communication between first and second persons to determine an emotional state of the communication, providing a visual representation of the emotional state of the communication for display to a person having access to the communication, and performing an intervention action to improve the emotional state of the communication in response to detecting the emotional state of the communication meets one or more specified intervention criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas G. Zimmerman
  • Publication number: 20200297207
    Abstract: An ophthalmic device having a single or dual compartment configuration selectively emits infrared and visible light beams onto one or a pair of target eyes. The device performs eye fundus imaging and aids in the detection of ailments as indicated by anomalies in the pupillary reflex.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2020
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Inventors: ALEXANDROS KARARGYRIS, THOMAS G. ZIMMERMAN
  • Patent number: 10717214
    Abstract: Nozzles are presented, for application of a setting resin into cells of a honeycomb core to provide the panel with reinforced segments. The nozzle comprises a connector portion and an application head, where the connector portion is adapted to receive setting resin from a resin dispensing device and deliver the setting resin to the application head, and the application head comprises: an exit hole, and a flange surrounding the exit hole. The flange comprises a bottom surface which comprises a planar surface which planar surface has a minimum width around the exit hole. The bottom surface of flange curves upward at its outer perimeter. In some embodiments, the nozzle is optically translucent or transparent. In addition, methods of applying a setting resin into cells of a honeycomb core to form a honeycomb core reinforcement are presented. In some embodiments, the setting resin is a low density void filler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Alvaro S. Domenighi, Kim L. Gustafson, Patrick G. Zimmerman
  • Publication number: 20200160554
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method according to one embodiment includes identifying a plurality of two-dimensional (2D) images illustrating a subject performing a rotation, selecting a representative image of the subject, cropping the plurality of 2D images, utilizing the representative image of the subject, to create a cropped plurality of 2D images, aligning each of the cropped plurality of 2D images, thereby creating an aligned plurality of 2D images, selecting a subset of the aligned plurality of 2D images that illustrate a predetermined amount of rotation of the subject, and creating a three-dimensional (3D) point cloud of the subject, utilizing the subset of the aligned plurality of 2D images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Inventors: Thomas G. Zimmerman, Simone Bianco, Rebecca M. McGillivary, Wallace F. Marshall
  • Publication number: 20200139395
    Abstract: Nozzles are provided, for applying setting resins onto the edge of a panel, in some embodiments the cut edge of a panel such as a honeycomb panel. The nozzle comprises a connector portion and an application head, wherein the application head comprises: a) a supporting wall, and b) a curved finish wall joining the supporting wall along an edge at an angle of greater than 92 degrees and less than 120 degrees. In some embodiments, the curved finish wall has a curve radius which remains between 1.0 and 7.0 cm throughout the length of the curved finish wall. In some embodiments, the curved finish wall has a trailing edge profile which is smoothly curved and a leading edge profile which is scalloped. In addition, methods of applying a setting resin onto the edge of a panel are presented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2020
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: Alvaro S. Domenighi, Kim L. Gustafson, Patrick G. Zimmerman
  • Patent number: D1022636
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation
    Inventors: Nathan Bandy, John Jubeck, Andrew J. Weber, Marcus Wechselberger, Jacob N. Zimmerman, Katherine G. Stringfield, Adam N. Carter