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: 20180124243
    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: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2016
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Inventor: Thomas G. Zimmerman
  • Publication number: 20180124242
    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: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2016
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Inventor: Thomas G. Zimmerman
  • Publication number: 20180101888
    Abstract: A mechanism is provided in a data processing system comprising at least one processor and at least one memory, the at least one memory comprising instructions executed by the at least one processor to cause the at least one processor to implement a personalized interactive decision support system. A customer profile generator executing within the personalized interactive decision support system determines a set of traits for at least one customer based on at least one user-generated content source. A personalized product recommendation module executing within the personalized interactive decision support system matches the at least one customer to at least one product within a set of products based on a consumption preferences-to-product attribute mapping data structure to form at least one product recommendation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2016
    Publication date: April 12, 2018
    Inventors: Rama Kalyani T. Akkiraju, David Amid, Ateret Anaby-Tavor, Jalal U. Mahmud, Jerald T. Schoudt, Maria N. Schwenger, Vibha S. Sinha, Thomas G. Zimmerman
  • Publication number: 20180056522
    Abstract: A portable box inverter which includes removable and adjustable grippers capable of grasping and inverting a wide variety of different types of containers. The portable box inverter generally includes a base unit including a rotatable bearing. An arm adjustment hub is connected to the bearing; with a pair of spanner arms extending outwardly in either direction from the arm adjustment hub. The distal ends of each respective spanner arm includes a hingedly attached gripper arm extending outwardly therefrom. A plurality of grippers may be removably and adjustably connected to the gripper arms in various configurations to grip various types of containers. By rotating the arm adjustment hub, the gripper arms may be opened to surround a container and closed to engage the container. By rotating the bearing, the container may be inverted to unload its contents and then returned to its original, upright position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventor: Benjamin G. Zimmerman
  • Publication number: 20180015494
    Abstract: Nozzles (200) are provided, for applying setting resins onto the edge of a panel (100), in some embodiments the cut edge of a panel such as a honeycomb panel. The nozzle comprises a connector portion (210) and an application head (230), wherein the application head comprises: a) a supporting wall (240), and b) a curved finish wall (250) 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: March 9, 2016
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Inventors: Alvaro S. Domenighi, Kim L. Gustafson, Patrick G. Zimmerman
  • Publication number: 20180015495
    Abstract: Nozzles are provided, for applying setting resins onto the edge of a partial cut in a panel, in some embodiments 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 finish wall joining the supporting wall along an edge at an angle of 90 degrees or greater and less than 120 degrees. In some embodiments, the finish wall has a trailing edge which has a curved profile wherein the curve radius remains between 1.0 and 7.0 cm throughout the curve. In some embodiments, the finish wall has a leading edge which comprises a block wall which at least partially blocks movement of applied resin beyond the leading edge of the finish wall. In addition, methods of applying a setting resin onto the edge of a partial cut in a panel are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Inventors: Alvaro S. Domenighi, Kim L. Gustafson, Patrick G. Zimmerman
  • Publication number: 20180015646
    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: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Inventors: Alvaro S. Domenighi, Kim L. Gustafson, Patrick G. Zimmerman
  • Publication number: 20170344899
    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: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2016
    Publication date: November 30, 2017
    Inventor: Thomas G Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 9452059
    Abstract: An intervertebral spacer in the form of a generally flat four sided disc, with two opposite sides having slightly curved surfaces and two opposite sides having pointed lobes. The disc is configured to be placed between two vertebrae and rotated, with the rotation spreading the vertebrae and moving the pointed lobes into contact with the inner vertebral faces, for holding the vertebrae a fixed distance apart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Inventors: Christian G. Zimmerman, Larry Holmes
  • Patent number: 9433138
    Abstract: An inductor mountable to a frame member of an implement. The inductor is movable between a working position and a stowed position. In the working position, the soil engaging tool is in engagement with the soil. In the stowed position, the soil engaging tool is out of engagement with the soil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Advanced Ag Concepts Inc.
    Inventor: Benjamin G. Zimmerman
  • Publication number: 20140230704
    Abstract: An inductor mountable to a frame member of an implement. The inductor is movable between a working position and a stowed position. In the working position, the soil engaging tool is in engagement with the soil. In the stowed position, the soil engaging tool is out of engagement with the soil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: Advanced Ag Concepts Inc.
    Inventor: Benjamin G. Zimmerman
  • Publication number: 20140114416
    Abstract: An intervertebral spacer in the form of a generally flat four sided disc, with two opposite sides having slightly curved surfaces and two opposite sides having pointed lobes. The disc is configured to be placed between two vertebrae and rotated, with the rotation spreading the vertebrae and moving the pointed lobes into contact with the inner vertebral faces, for holding the vertebrae a fixed distance apart.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Inventors: CHRISTIAN G. ZIMMERMAN, LARRY HOLMES
  • Patent number: 8690642
    Abstract: A blade sharpening system is provided that includes a sharpening assembly including a sharpener configured to engage a generally circular agricultural implement blade while mounted on the agricultural implement. The blade sharpening system also includes a rail configured to support the sharpening assembly and to facilitate movement of the sharpening assembly along the rail. The blade sharpening system further includes a mounting feature coupled to the rail and configured to engage a structural member of the agricultural implement to support the rail and sharpening assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: Tracey D. Meiners, Ross L. Gingrich, Ben G. Zimmerman, Alan R. Martin, Paul Hurtis, Michael G. Kovach
  • Patent number: 8535120
    Abstract: A blade sharpening system is provide that includes a base and a pendulous arm having a first end rotatably coupled to the base by a pivot joint. The blade sharpening system also includes a sharpener suspended by the pendulous arm and configured to engage a generally circular agricultural implement blade while mounted on the agricultural implement. The pendulous arm is configured to enable movement of the sharpener to accommodate lateral variations in blade profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: Robert A. Zemenchik, Ivan Rieke, Mark Hoffman, Ross L. Gingrich, Ben G. Zimmerman, Alan R. Martin, Tracey D. Meiners, Michael G. Kovach, Paul Hurtis
  • Publication number: 20130207786
    Abstract: Biometric authorization is provided for a passive secure data card. An additional layer of security may be provided in the form of a biometric password. Session timing may be enforced to limit opportunities of third parties to snoop transmitted information while providing ample time to complete the card transaction. Biometric retries may be enforced to limit opportunities of third parties to hack the biometric security.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Richard Hutzler, Steve N. Nguyen, Nelson J. Smith, IV, Thomas G. Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 8446667
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method of locating a specimen with a microscope, the microscope including two point light sources, a transparent specimen holder, a digital imaging device, a processor, and a display. The method includes sequentially illuminating the two point light sources through the specimen holder, across the specimen, and onto the digital imaging device to create shadows associated with each of the two point light sources. Optical images of the specimen are received on the digital imaging device associated with each shadow from the light sources, and a disparity signal is output containing a horizontal, vertical, and depth position of the specimen relative to the digital imaging device. Location of the specimen is determined based on the disparity signal. The specimen is allowed to move freely throughout the transparent specimen holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Barton A. Smith, Thomas G. Zimmerman
  • Publication number: 20130115594
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a molecular probe capable of high sensitivity and high specificity detection of a target nucleic acid in a sample. Also disclosed is a detection method using this probe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2012
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Applicant: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Fang Wei, Bernhard G. Zimmerman, David T. W. Wong
  • Patent number: 8276709
    Abstract: A sound insulation process comprises (a) providing at least one sound insulation device comprising at least one sound barrier comprising at least one substantially periodic array of structures disposed in a first medium having a first density, the structures being made of a second medium having a second density different from the first density, wherein one of the first and second media is a viscoelastic medium having a speed of propagation of longitudinal sound wave and a speed of propagation of transverse sound wave, the speed of propagation of longitudinal sound wave being at least about 30 times the speed of propagation of transverse sound wave, and wherein the other of the first and second media is a viscoelastic or elastic medium; and (b) interposing the sound insulation device between an acoustic source area and an acoustic receiving area of a transportation vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Ali Berker, Richard W. Greger, Marie Aloshyna ep Lesuffieur, Michael Patrick M. Mandanas, Sanat Mohanty, David A. Ylitalo, Patrick G. Zimmerman
  • Publication number: 20120197612
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to generating a noise model for a given environment. According to one embodiment of the invention, sounds occurring within the given environment over a given period are monitored, and signals that each represent an amplitude of the sounds occurring within the given environment during a portion of the given period are generated. Average noise levels associated with the given environment over the given period are determined, and peak noise events occurring within the given environment over the given period are identified. The average noise levels and information indicating the peak noise events are stored or transmitted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Clemens DREWS, Christine M. Robson, Thomas G. Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 8211156
    Abstract: The invention is a bone screw apparatus. The bone screw apparatus has two specialized functions for stabilizing the screw within a bone. The first is a mechanical structure that anchors the screw within a bone and the second is a structure that allows injection of bone cement through the screw assembly and into the interior structure of the bone. The anchoring mechanism functions by an expandable member that slides concentrically over the shaft of the screw. When the expandable member is forced over a portion of the screw shaft with an enlarged diameter, the expandable member extends radially from the screw shaft, and the bone screw is anchored to the interior structure of the bone. The injecting function of the bone screw apparatus functions through the use of a hollow core within the screw shaft. The hollow core of the screw shaft has an inlet at the top of the shaft and at least one outlet near the tip of the screw shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Inventors: Bruce J. Andersen, Christian G. Zimmerman