Patents by Inventor James J. O'Brien

James J. O'Brien 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: 10574178
    Abstract: A photovoltaic element comprising: (a) a photovoltaic assembly; (b) a shingle portion connected to the photovoltaic assembly, the shingle portion including: (i) one or more flexible regions and (ii) one or more attachment regions; wherein the one or more attachment regions connect the photovoltaic element to a structure and the one or more flexible regions are flexed so that all or a portion of the attachment regions are located below the shingle portion; and wherein the one or more flexible regions, the one or more attachment regions, or both include one more drainage elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: DOW GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Leonardo C. Lopez, Susan M. Zerull, James J. O'Brien
  • Publication number: 20190058437
    Abstract: A photovoltaic element comprising: (a) a photovoltaic assembly; (b) a shingle portion connected to the photovoltaic assembly, the shingle portion including: (i) one or more flexible regions and (ii) one or more attachment regions; wherein the one or more attachment regions connect the photovoltaic element to a structure and the one or more flexible regions are flexed so that all or a portion of the attachment regions are located below the shingle portion; and wherein the one or more flexible regions, the one or more attachment regions, or both include one more drainage elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Publication date: February 21, 2019
    Inventors: Leonardo C. LOPEZ, Susan M. ZERULL, James J. O'BRIEN
  • Patent number: 9745227
    Abstract: A porous discriminating layer is formed on a ceramic support having at least one porous wall by (a) establishing a flow of a gas stream containing agglomerates of particles and (b) calcining said deposited layer to form the discriminating layer. At least a portion of the particles are of a sinter-resistant material or a sinter-resistant material precursor. The particles have a size from 0.01 to 5 microns and the agglomerates have a size of from 10 to 200 microns. This method is an inexpensive and effective route to forming a discriminating layer onto the porous wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: DOW GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Jun Cai, Aleksander J. Pyzik, James J. O'Brien, Robin P. Ziebarth
  • Patent number: 9550700
    Abstract: A porous ceramic composition having improved thermal stability is comprised of ceramic grains bonded together by grain boundary phase comprised of silica, yttrium and oxygen wherein the amount of alkali metals, alkaline earth metals and other transition metals not including rare earth metals is at most 2% by weight of the grain boundary phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: DOW GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Michael T. Malanga, James J. O'Brien, Aleksander J. Pyzik, Nicholas M. Shinkel, Clifford S. Todd, Paul C. Vosejpka, Robin P. Ziebarth
  • Publication number: 20160349409
    Abstract: Photovoltaic shade impact prediction processes include obtaining a three-dimensional model of a subject, associating an identifier of a camera image with a location of the camera disposed on the subject. The processes also include receiving an image of the sky captured by the camera, and the identifier, measuring pixel brightness of the image, estimating shade object perimeters in spherical coordinates based on the pixel brightness, and displaying a representation of the shade object perimeters in the model at the location of the camera based on the camera image identifier. The representation of the shade object perimeters is oriented based on a tilt angle and azimuth angle of the subject surface. The processes further include estimating a size and position of shade objects in real world three-dimensional space based on the spherical coordinates of the shade object perimeters, and creating an irradiance map for the subject surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2014
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Inventors: Stephen G. Pisklak, James J. O'Brien
  • Patent number: 9481605
    Abstract: A porous ceramic composition having improved thermal stability is comprised of ceramic grains bonded together by a grain boundary phase comprised of silica, rare earth element that is Eu, Gd, Nd or mixture thereof and oxygen and optionally yttrium, wherein the grain boundary phase has a amount of an alkali, an alkaline earth metal and a transition metal other than yttrium that is at most 2% by weight of the grain boundary phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: DOW GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Michael T. Malanga, James J. O'Brien, Aleksander J. Pyzik, Nicholas M. Shinkel, Clifford S. Todd, Paul C. Vosejpka, Robin P. Ziebarth
  • Patent number: 9399702
    Abstract: Crosslinkable arylamine compounds, oligomers and polymers prepared from such crosslinkable arylamine compounds, films and coatings, and multilayer electronic devices comprising such films are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: SUMITOMO CHEMICAL COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Scott Gaynor, Michael Inbasekaran, James J. O'Brien, Dean M. Welsh
  • Publication number: 20150299045
    Abstract: A porous ceramic composition having improved thermal stability is comprised of ceramic grains bonded together by grain boundary phase comprised of silica, yttrium and oxygen wherein the amount of alkali metals, alkaline earth metals and other transition metals not including rare earth metals is at most 2% by weight of the grain boundary phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Inventors: Michael T. Malanga, James J. O'Brien, Aleksander J. Pyzik, Nicholas M. Shinkel, Clifford S. Todd, Paul C. Vosejpka, Robin P. Ziebarth
  • Publication number: 20150284294
    Abstract: A porous ceramic composition having improved thermal stability is comprised of ceramic grains bonded together by a grain boundary phase comprised of silica, rare earth element that is Eu, Gd, Nd or mixture thereof and oxygen and optionally yttrium, wherein the grain boundary phase has a amount of an alkali, an alkaline earth metal and a transition metal other than yttrium that is at most 2% by weight of the grain boundary phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Publication date: October 8, 2015
    Inventors: Michael T. Malanga, James J. O'Brien, Aleksander J. Pyzik, Nicholas M. Shinkel, Clifford S. Todd, Paul C. Vosejpka, Robin P. Ziebarth
  • Publication number: 20150040763
    Abstract: Ceramic honeycomb assemblies are made from ceramic honeycomb sections arranged sequentially in an axial direction. The plugging patterns of the cells in the various sections are varied so that a portion of a fluid entering the assemblies can pass through upstream section(s) of the assembly without being filtered. One or more downstream sections capture particulate matter that has passed through the upstream sections without being filtered. This design reduces “ring-off” cracking, and high filtration capacity, with little increase in pressure drop during operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2013
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventors: James J. O'Brien, Jun Cai, Ashish Kotnis, Paul C. Vosejpka
  • Patent number: 8475700
    Abstract: Prepare an oriented polymer composition that is cavitated, has cross sectional dimensions all at least three millimeters and at least one de-oriented surface layer having a thickness of at least 80 microns and at least 50 microns less than half the thickness of the oriented polymer composition, the de-oriented surface layer having a lower degree of polymer orientation than a 100 micron thick portion of the oriented polymer composition adjacent to and below the de-oriented surface layer by sufficiently heat treating a surface of a cavitated oriented polymer composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Eovations, LLC
    Inventors: James J. O'Brien, Timothy O. Kirch, Kevin L. Nichols, Brett M. Birchmeier
  • Publication number: 20130149458
    Abstract: A porous discriminating layer is formed on a ceramic support having at least one porous wall by (a) establishing a flow of a gas stream containing agglomerates of particles and (b) calcining said deposited layer to form the discriminating layer. At least a portion of the particles are of a sinter-resistant material or a sinter-resistant material precursor. The particles have a size from 0.01 to 5 microns and the agglomerates have a size of from 10 to 200 microns. This method is an inexpensive and effective route to forming a discriminating layer onto the porous wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2011
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Inventors: Jun Cai, Aleksander J. Pyzik, James J. O'Brien, Robin P. Ziebarth
  • Publication number: 20120001358
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method comprising a) placing wet ceramic greenware body on a carrying structure, and b) exposing the wet ceramic greenware body to conditions such that the liquid carrier in the ceramic greenware body is substantially removed; wherein the carrying structure contains a carrying sheet comprising a material which retains its shape under drying conditions, the carrying sheet having two flat parallel faces and a plurality of walls perpendicular to the flat parallel faces wherein the walls form a plurality of flow passages communicating between the two faces wherein the largest distance between any two walls in the carrying sheet is about 6 mm or less and the walls have a sufficient thickness to support the wet ceramic greenware body under drying conditions without deforming and the area of the flow passages measured parallel to the two faces is from about 60 to about 90 percent by volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Inventors: Terence J. Clark, James J. O'Brien
  • Patent number: 8071769
    Abstract: A halogenated aromatic monomer-metal complex useful for preparing a polymer for electronic devices such as a light-emitting diode (LED) device is described. The aromatic monomer-metal complex is designed to include a linking group that disrupts conjugation, thereby advantageously reducing or preventing electron delocalization between the aromatic monomer fragment and the metal complex fragment. Disruption of conjugation is often desirable to preserve the phosphorescent emission properties of the metal complex in a polymer formed from the aromatic monomer-metal complex. The resultant conjugated electroluminescent polymer has precisely controlled metal complexation and electronic properties that are substantially or completely independent of those of the polymer backbone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Sumitomo Chemical Company, Limited
    Inventors: Wanglin Yu, James J. O'Brien
  • Patent number: 8034882
    Abstract: A conjugated or partially conjugated polymer including a structural unit of Formula (I); where T is an aryl or heteroaryl group that may be substituted or unsubstituted, or a C1-C24 alkyl group; R1 is alkyl, alkoxy, aryl group, cyano, or F; and a and b are independently selected from 1, 2 or 3. In addition, a composition of Formula (IV); wherein X is a halogen or a boronate group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Sumitomo Chemical Company, Limited
    Inventors: Wanglin Yu, Weishi Wu, James J. O'Brien
  • Publication number: 20110229693
    Abstract: The present invention is a method to manufacture shaped foam article. Specifically, the present invention is a method of extruding a styrenic polymer with a blowing agent to form a foam polymer plank having a density gradient and shaping the surface of the foam plank having the lowest density by passing the foam plank through one or more sets of rolls. Preferably, the foam has a vertical compressive balance (Rv) equal to or greater than 0.4 and more preferably, the foam has a cell gas pressure less than 1 atmosphere and/or an open cell content of equal to or less than 20 percent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2009
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Inventors: Myron Maurer, Casey R. Fiting, Timothy O. Kirch, James J. O'Brien
  • Publication number: 20110172426
    Abstract: A halogenated aromatic monomer-metal complex useful for preparing a polymer for electronic devices such as a light-emitting diode (LED) device is described. The aromatic monomer-metal complex is designed to include a linking group that disrupts conjugation, thereby advantageously reducing or preventing electron delocalization between the aromatic monomer fragment and the metal complex fragment. Disruption of conjugation is often desirable to preserve the phosphorescent emission properties of the metal complex in a polymer formed from the aromatic monomer-metal complex. The resultant conjugated electroluminescent polymer has precisely controlled metal complexation and electronic properties that are substantially or completely independent of those of the polymer backbone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Applicant: SUMITOMO CHEMICAL COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Wanglin YU, James J. O'Brien
  • Publication number: 20110018162
    Abstract: Prepare an oriented polymer composition that is cavitated, has cross sectional dimensions all at least three millimeters and at least one de-oriented surface layer having a thickness of at least 8C microns and at least 50 microns less than half the thickness of the oriented polymer composition, the de-oriented surface layer having a lower degree of polymer orientation than a 100 micron thick portion of the oriented polymer composition adjacent to and below the de-oriented surface layer by sufficiently heat treating a surface of a cavitated oriented polymer composition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2010
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Inventors: James J. O'Brien, Timothy O. Kirch, Kevin L. Nichols, Brett M. Birchmeier
  • Patent number: 7824756
    Abstract: Prepare an oriented polymer composition that is cavitated, has cross sectional dimensions all at least three millimeters and at least one de-oriented surface layer having a thickness of at least 80 microns and at least 50 microns less than half the thickness of the oriented polymer composition, the de-oriented surface layer having a lower degree of polymer orientation than a 100 micron thick portion of the oriented polymer composition adjacent to and below the de-oriented surface layer by sufficiently heat treating a surface of a cavitated oriented polymer composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James J. O'Brien, Timothy O. Kirch, Kevin L. Nichols, Brett M. Birchmeier
  • Publication number: 20100160631
    Abstract: A halogenated aromatic monomer-metal complex useful for preparing a polymer for electronic devices such as a light-emitting diode (LED) device is described. The aromatic monomer-metal complex is designed to include a linking group that disrupts conjugation, thereby advantageously reducing or preventing electron delocalization between the aromatic monomer fragment and the metal complex fragment. Disruption of conjugation is often desirable to preserve the phosphorescent emission properties of the metal complex in a polymer formed from the aromatic monomer-metal complex. The resultant conjugated electroluminescent polymer has precisely controlled metal complexation and electronic properties that are substantially or completely independent of those of the polymer backbone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: SUMITOMO CHEMICHAL COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Wanglin YU, James J. O'BRIEN