Patents by Inventor J. Little

J. Little 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: 20130110158
    Abstract: A spray head having multiple openings arranged to provide at spray coverage throughout at least 90 degrees from the spray head central axis. The spray head may be used for applying tissue sealants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Inventors: Ethan G. Sherman, David J. Little, Wei Chen, John R. Prisco, Matthew J. Friend, Matthew F. Myntti, Tom Zelmer, Cyan Godfrey, Roy Attride
  • Publication number: 20120279522
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions useful for conditioning and removing solid deposits that have formed on or otherwise accumulated within one or more components including, for example, scale formed within a steam generating system. The aqueous cleaning compositions incorporate one or more quaternary ammonium hydroxides characterized by pKa values no less than about 13.5. These quaternary ammonium hydroxides may be used alone or in combination with one or more additives including, for example, chelating agents, reducing or oxidizing agents, pH adjustment agents, surfactants, corrosion inhibitors, complexing agents, dispersants and combinations thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2010
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Inventors: Robert D. Varrin, JR., Michael J. Little, Carly E. Anderson
  • Publication number: 20120056139
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for attachment to a jack including a first axle. The apparatus includes a fulcrum wheel disposed on a second axle, the second axle being connected directly or indirectly to the first axle. A lever has a first end connected directly or indirectly to the second axle and a second end having a terminus. A first line intersects the first axle and second axle. A second line intersects the second axle and the lever terminus. The first and second lines meet at an obtuse angle. In another aspect, an apparatus is disclosed including a jack having a first axle, an extension member, and a fulcrum wheel is disposed on a second axle connected to the extension member. A lever has a first end attachable to the extension member proximate the second axle. A method of moving a jack relative to a ground surface is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Inventors: Mark Ebbenga, Edwin H. Ryan, Mark J. Little
  • Publication number: 20110303247
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods and apparatus for cleaning heat exchangers and similar vessels by introducing chemical cleaning solutions and/or solvents while maintaining a target temperature range by direct steam injection into the cleaning solution. The steam may be injected directly into the heat exchanger or into a temporary side stream loop for recirculating the cleaning solution or admixed with fluids being injected to the heat exchanger. The disclosed methods are suitable for removing metallic oxides from a heat exchanger under chemically reducing conditions or metallic species such as copper under chemically oxidizing conditions. In order to further enhance the heat transfer efficiency of heating cleaning solvents by direct steam injection, mixing on the secondary side of the heat exchanger can be enhanced by gas sparging or by transferring liquid between heat exchangers when more than one heat exchanger is being cleaned at the same time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2009
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Applicant: DOMINION ENGINEERING, INC.
    Inventors: Robert D. Varrin, JR., Michael J. Little
  • Publication number: 20110245647
    Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring EMG signals of a patient's laryngeal muscles includes an endotracheal tube having an exterior surface and a first location configured to be positioned at the patient's vocal folds. A first electrode is formed on the exterior surface of the endotracheal tube substantially below the first location. A second electrode is formed on the exterior surface of the endotracheal tube substantially above the first location. The first and second electrodes are configured to receive the EMG signals from the laryngeal muscles when the endotracheal tube is placed in a trachea of the patient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2010
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: MEDTRONIC XOMED, INC.
    Inventors: Maria Charles Vijay Stanislaus, David C. Hacker, Wenjeng Li, Dave J. Little, Carla A. Pagotto, Dwayne S. Yamasaki
  • Publication number: 20110209730
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods and apparatus for cleaning heat exchangers and similar vessels by introducing chemical cleaning solutions and/or solvents while maintaining a target temperature range by direct steam injection into the cleaning solution. The steam may be injected directly into the heat exchanger or into a temporary side stream loop for recirculating the cleaning solution or admixed with fluids being injected to the heat exchanger. The disclosed methods are suitable for removing metallic oxides from a heat exchanger under chemically reducing conditions or metallic species such as copper under chemically oxidizing conditions. In order to further enhance the heat transfer efficiency of heating cleaning solvents by direct steam injection, mixing on the secondary side of the heat exchanger can be enhanced by gas sparging or by transferring liquid between heat exchangers when more than one heat exchanger is being cleaned at the same time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2009
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Inventors: Robert D. Varrin, JR., Michael J. Little
  • Patent number: 7949422
    Abstract: A machine tool control system. A machine tool controller is provided to receive commands from an input source and provide control instructions to a machine tool based at least in part on the commands. An operator interface is provided for inputting commands to the controller. The interface includes a display screen having images of individual command functions, the images being selectable on the screen to place into a sequence of command functions selected by an operator. A sequence generator indicates sequential ordering of the command functions represented by the sequence of images on the screen, such that a sequence of images on the screen selected by the operator is translated by the operator controller sequence generator into a sequence of commands to be inputted into the controller. The operator interface may include one or more images each representing a plurality of individual command functions in a defined sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Vermont Machine Tool Corporation
    Inventors: Robby J. Little, Jeffrey P. Ramen, David W. Lauzon, Philip H. Caron, Richard L. Desbiens
  • Patent number: 7941560
    Abstract: A system for client caching of target addresses for network requests includes one or more processors and memory coupled to the processors, where the memory stores instructions executable by the processors to implement an application configured to direct network requests received from users to target servers over the network. The application attempts to update a current version of a local data object storing network addresses, where the attempt includes sending an update request to a redirecting server over a network. If the attempt succeeds, the application accesses the updated version of the local data object to obtain a target address for a network request. If the attempt fails, the target address is obtained from the version of the local data object that existed before the update was attempted. The application directs the network request to the appropriate server using the target address.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Intuit Inc.
    Inventors: Leslie V. Friesen, Andrew J. Little
  • Publication number: 20110037928
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display may include a rear polarizer comprising a front and rear wire grid polarizer respectively having first and second pluralities of closely spaced parallel metallic lines. An optically absorptive material is disposed proximate a viewing side of the second plurality of closely spaced parallel metallic lines. A liquid crystal array may be disposed between the front polarizer and the rear polarizers. The front wire grid polarizer may include a plurality of closely spaced parallel metallic lines and an optically absorptive material disposed proximate one side of the metallic lines. The optically absorptive material may be configured such that said wire grid polarizer is characterized by reflectivity of less than 4%. Alternatively, the front polarizer may include a substrate having a plurality of ribs and an optically absorptive material disposed on said ribs proximate one side of said ribs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2008
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Inventor: Michael J. Little
  • Publication number: 20110018724
    Abstract: A device system includes a transmitter assembly and a receiver assembly. The transmitter assembly includes a frequency transmitter having an antenna and a first plurality of electrically conductive elements. The receiver assembly includes a frequency receiver having an antenna and an annunciator. Immersion of at least a portion of each of the first plurality of conductive elements in water causes the frequency transmitter to transmit a frequency via its antenna to the antenna of the frequency receiver, thereby causing a first annuciation by the annunciator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Inventors: Mark J. Little, Mark Ebbenga
  • Publication number: 20100277660
    Abstract: A combined functionality film may include a wire gird polarizer formed onto a surface of the retarder or compensation film. The wire grid polarizer is configured to transmit light of a desired polarization and reflect light of an undesired polarization. The retarder film or compensation film is configured to increase an angular viewing angle for a liquid crystal display. Such a combined functionality film may be incorporated into a liquid crystal display (LCD) or LCD panel assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Inventor: Michael J. Little
  • Publication number: 20100134719
    Abstract: A wire grid polarizer may be formed by embossing a substrate surface with a mold having a plurality of grooves to form raised ridges; and depositing a metal line profile onto the ridges through one or more baffles oriented at an oblique angle to the normal of the substrate. The metal line profile is characterized by a cross-sectional width that tapers such that the metal line profile is wider proximate a vertex of the ridges than proximate a base of the ridges. A wire grid polarizer may comprise a substrate with a plurality of raised ridges and a plurality of metal lines on the raised ridges. The metal lines are characterized by cross-sectional metal line profiles having triangular shapes with a tip down configuration. Such a wire grid polarizer may be used in a liquid crystal display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Inventors: Chad Johns, Erik Egan, Michael J. Little
  • Publication number: 20100136233
    Abstract: Material may be obliquely deposited on a plurality of down-web oriented features on a substrate oriented in a down-web (z) direction or other than a cross-web (y) direction. A linear source generates a vapor flux of a material oriented parallel to the substrate and either parallel to the y direction or at an angle intermediate the y and z directions. The vapor flux impinges on the substrate at an oblique angle relative to the y direction. The substrate moves in the z direction relative to the linear source as the material impinges on the substrate. The vapor flux has a sufficiently narrow angular distribution in a plane perpendicular the substrate and parallel to the y direction that material deposits on predetermined portions of the down-web oriented features but not other portions, forming parallel down-web oriented lines of the material on the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Inventor: Michael J. Little
  • Patent number: 7581319
    Abstract: The invention is an improved electrical hair trimmer having an internal cleaning tray that cleans dirty cutting blades. Located adjacent to the cleaning tray is an internal conveying means that enables a dirty cutting blade to be removed and a cleaned cutting blade to be installed without the use of an external mechanism. The main benefit of this invention is to provide an electrical hair trimming tool that can automatically remove and clean a used and dirty cutting blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Inventors: Robert J. Little, Alichanel Jones
  • Publication number: 20090195729
    Abstract: An optical display having integrated functions in one or more layer is disclosed. Specifically, the optical display having two or more of the optical components integrated into a single layer without laminating two different layers of material together. A method of making a wire grids polarizer is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Applicant: AGOURA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Michael J. Little, Charles W. McLaughlin
  • Patent number: 7561332
    Abstract: A wire grid polarizer may be fabricated by forming plurality of substantially-straight metallic lines of predetermined periodicity ? on a thin film substrate A plurality of substantially straight nanometer-scale periodic surface relief structures is created on a surface of the substrate. The periodic surface relief structures cover a region greater than about 4 centimeters in length and greater than about 4 centimeters in width, wherein the periodicity ? is between about 10 nanometers and about 500 nanometers. One or more layers of material are formed on the periodic relief structures. The one or more layers include one or more conductor materials that form the plurality of substantially straight metallic lines over a region of the substrate greater than about 4 centimeters in length and greater than about 4 centimeters in width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Agoura Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Little, Charles W. McLaughlin
  • Patent number: 7491407
    Abstract: A drug delivery system in the form of homo-component, bi-component or multi-component fibers wherein one of more of the components comprise a drug compounded with a polymer carrier. These fibers are packed to form a tablet directly, or are chopped and placed in a capsule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: North Carolina State University
    Inventors: Behnam Pourdeyhimi, Rory Holmes, Trevor J. Little
  • Publication number: 20080129930
    Abstract: A direct view display apparatus is disclosed. The direct view display apparatus comprises a source of backlight, a liquid crystal array; a tandem reflective polarizer having two or more reflective polarizer elements disposed in tandem between the source of backlight and the liquid crystal array; and a second polarizer. The liquid crystal array is disposed between the tandem reflective polarizers and the second polarizer. The second polarizer is an absorptive polarizer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2006
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Applicant: Agoura Technologies
    Inventor: Michael J. Little
  • Patent number: 7351346
    Abstract: A method for forming a plurality of parallel metal lines on a substrate of thin film elastomeric material and a wire grid polarizer formed by such method. A sacrificial layer is formed by coating the substrate with a water soluble polymer while the substrate is stretched. The existing tensile force is removed, leaving an undulating topology of buckled sacrificial layer material. A masking layer is then deposited at an oblique angle and then fractured into parallel lines of material by application of a second tensile force. Unmasked portions of the sacrificial layer are removed by dry etch. A metallic layer is then deposited and a lift off process employed to remove remaining portions of the sacrificial layer and materials deposited thereover. Upon removal of the second tensile force, the substrate returns to its unstressed length with metal lines of predetermined periodicity thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Agoura Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael J. Little
  • Patent number: D646489
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Inventor: Kellie J Little