Patents by Inventor James Kerns

James Kerns 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: 20240024703
    Abstract: The modular jig system may comprise a plurality of carrier jigs and an adapter jig. The plurality of carrier jigs may be operable to support and orient calibration phantoms on a treatment couch within a radiation oncology treatment vault. An individual carrier jig selected from the plurality of carrier jigs may be used to support one calibration phantom at a time. The plurality of carrier jigs may be interconnected to place and orient multiple calibration phantoms. The adapter jig may be operable to position the calibration phantoms at fixed reference locations relative to the treatment couch. The treatment couch may be positioned to image one of the calibration phantoms and the treatment couch may be repositioned such that each of the calibration phantoms may be imaged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2022
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Inventor: James Kerns
  • Publication number: 20230330437
    Abstract: An apparatus in a radiation therapy system includes: a base configured to support a first quality assurance phantom at a first position and a second quality assurance phantom at a second position; and at least one coupling element. The at least one coupling element is configured to: mate with at least one indexing feature of a first patient treatment couch of the radiation therapy system; and fix a position of the base relative to the first patient treatment couch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2022
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Applicant: VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: James KERNS, Niklaus SCHNEIDER, Todd G HOLMES, Christian STAMM
  • Patent number: 11717705
    Abstract: An apparatus in a radiation therapy system includes: a base configured to support a first quality assurance phantom at a first position and a second quality assurance phantom at a second position; and at least one coupling element. The at least one coupling element is configured to: mate with at least one indexing feature of a first patient treatment couch of the radiation therapy system; and fix a position of the base relative to the first patient treatment couch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: James Kerns, Niklaus Schneider, Todd G Holmes, Christian Stamm
  • Patent number: 10904730
    Abstract: Systems and methods for correcting network connectivity of a connected device are provided. Such systems and methods can include a mobile device determining whether the mobile device can connect to and communicate with a connected device, and the mobile device determining whether the mobile device is connected to a home network. When the mobile device cannot connect to and communicate with the connected device, but is connected to the home network, such systems and methods can include the mobile device transmitting or displaying messages documenting a troubleshooting process to restore the network connectivity between the mobile device and the connected device. Contents of the messages can be dependent on whether some or none of current network connectivity information related to a current network connection between the mobile device and the home network matches stored network connectivity information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Ademco Inc.
    Inventors: Philip Ferro, James Kern, Michael Landi, Alice DeBiasio, Kaja Mohaideen Yousuff
  • Patent number: 10726704
    Abstract: Systems and methods for delaying transmission of an alarm signal responsive to detecting delay actions indicative of progress towards confirming or denying the alarm signal are provided and can include an alarm processing device receiving the alarm signal and determining whether a user device is enrolled in an alarm notification service. When the user device is enrolled in the alarm notification service, the alarm processing device can transmit a notification to the user device, start a delay timer, and determine whether a first delay action associated with the user device is detected prior to expiration of the delay timer. When the first delay action is detected prior to the expiration of the delay timer, the alarm processing device can alter the delay timer consistent with a next delay action associated with the user device and, when the delay timer expires, transmit the alarm signal to the central monitoring station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: ADEMCO INC.
    Inventors: James Kern, Christopher Coleman, Philip Ferro
  • Publication number: 20180338342
    Abstract: Systems and methods for correcting network connectivity of a connected device are provided. Such systems and methods can include a mobile device determining whether the mobile device can connect to and communicate with a connected device, and the mobile device determining whether the mobile device is connected to a home network. When the mobile device cannot connect to and communicate with the connected device, but is connected to the home network, such systems and methods can include the mobile device transmitting or displaying messages documenting a troubleshooting process to restore the network connectivity between the mobile device and the connected device. Contents of the messages can be dependent on whether some or none of current network connectivity information related to a current network connection between the mobile device and the home network matches stored network connectivity information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Publication date: November 22, 2018
    Inventors: Philip Ferro, James Kern, Michael Landi, Alice DeBiasio, Kaja Mohaideen Yousuff
  • Patent number: 9892627
    Abstract: Systems and methods for reducing false alarms and providing a central station with information regarding occupants in a monitored region using a GPS location of a mobile device are provided. Some methods can include receiving a first signal indicative of a detected alarm condition in the monitored region, responsive to receiving the first signal, transmitting a second signal to the mobile device, receiving a third signal from the mobile device indicative of the GPS location of the mobile device, and based on a location of the monitored region and the third signal indicative of the GPS location of the mobile device, determining a likelihood of whether the detected alarm condition is real or false. Additionally or alternatively, some methods can include receiving the signal from the mobile device indicative of the GPS location of the mobile device at predetermined periodic time intervals and irrespective of the detected alarm condition in the monitored region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Philip J. Ferro, James Kern, Michael Landi
  • Patent number: 9705962
    Abstract: An asynchronous reporting mechanism for a remote device in a heating, ventilation and air conditioning environment. Using gateway information, such as a device address, report information may be sent to the user account, or using another approach, the information may be sent directly to the user. An asynchronous message may be sent without user intervention or request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick R. Lemire, Cherry Lv, Thomas Paul Schmit, Jeffrey Stuart, Bo Wang, James Kern, William R. Blum, Philip J. Ferro
  • Publication number: 20170116847
    Abstract: Systems and methods for reducing false alarms and providing a central station with information regarding occupants in a monitored region using the GPS location of a mobile device are provided. Some methods can include receiving a first signal indicative of a detected alarm condition in a monitored region, responsive to receiving the first signal, transmitting a second signal to a mobile device, receiving a third signal from a mobile device indicative of a location of the mobile device, and based on a location of the monitored region and the third signal indicative of the location of the mobile device, determining a likelihood of whether the detected alarm condition is real or false. Additionally or alternatively, some methods can include receiving a signal from a mobile device indicative of a location of the mobile device at predetermined periodic time intervals and irrespective of any detected alarm condition in the monitored region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2015
    Publication date: April 27, 2017
    Inventors: Philip J. Ferro, James Kern, Michael Landi
  • Patent number: 8733082
    Abstract: A method for operating an international combustion engine, the engine also includes a first cylinder, a second cylinder, an exhaust system, and a fuel cell in the exhaust system. The method comprises operating the first cylinder lean to provide air to the fuel cell during at least one condition; and operating the second cylinder rich or stoichiometric to provide torque output and fuel to the fuel cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Shane Elwart, James Kerns, Gopichandra Surnilla, David Bidner
  • Publication number: 20140082177
    Abstract: An asynchronous reporting mechanism for a remote device in a heating, ventilation and air conditioning environment. Using gateway information, such as a device address, report information may be sent to the user account, or using another approach, the information may be sent directly to the user. An asynchronous message may be sent without user intervention or request.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2012
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Patrick R. Lemire, Cherry Lv, Thomas Paul Schmit, Jeffrey Stuart, Bo Wang, James Kern, William R. Blum, Philip J. Ferro
  • Patent number: 8394542
    Abstract: A system for a vehicle having an engine with an exhaust comprises a fuel cell coupled in the engine exhaust wherein the fuel cell has an output circuit; a battery coupled with the fuel cell; and a controller receiving a signal indicative of an electric output of the fuel cell output circuit, and adjusting one of the fuel amount and the air amount supplied to the engine in response to said signal to affect air-fuel ratio of the exhaust of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Shane Elwart, James Kerns, Gopichandra Surnilla, David Bidner
  • Patent number: 8192877
    Abstract: An exhaust emission reduction system of a vehicle having an internal combustion engine with an at least one cylinder coupled to an exhaust system comprises a NOx reduction catalyst disposed in the exhaust system downstream of the engine exhaust system; and a fuel cell disposed in the exhaust system downstream of the NOx reduction catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Shane Elwart, James Kerns, Gopichandra Surnilla, David Bidner
  • Patent number: 8132400
    Abstract: An emissions control system for a vehicle configured to travel on a road is provided. In one example, a forced modulation of a UEGO is provided when output of a HEGO sensor is unavailable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Eric Storhok, James Kerns, Imad Makki, Ed Schoenberg
  • Publication number: 20110107740
    Abstract: A method for operating an international combustion engine, the engine also includes a first cylinder, a second cylinder, an exhaust system, and a fuel cell in the exhaust system. The method comprises operating the first cylinder lean to provide air to the fuel cell during at least one condition; and operating the second cylinder rich or stoichiometric to provide torque output and fuel to the fuel cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Shane Elwart, James Kerns, Gopichandra Surnilla, David Bldner
  • Publication number: 20110077839
    Abstract: A system for a vehicle having an engine with an exhaust comprises a fuel cell coupled in the engine exhaust wherein the fuel cell has an output circuit; a battery coupled with the fuel cell; and a controller receiving a signal indicative of an electric output of the fuel cell output circuit, and adjusting one of the fuel amount and the air amount supplied to the engine in response to said signal to affect air-fuel ratio of the exhaust of the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Shane Elwart, James Kerns, Gopichandra Surnilla, David Bidner
  • Patent number: 7870723
    Abstract: A method for operating an international combustion engine, the engine also includes a first cylinder, a second cylinder, an exhaust system, and a fuel cell in the exhaust system. The method comprises operating the first cylinder lean to provide air to the fuel cell during at least one condition; and operating the second cylinder rich or stoichiometric to provide torque output and fuel to the fuel cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Shane Elwart, James Kerns, Gopichandra Surnilla, David Bidner
  • Patent number: 7846595
    Abstract: A system for a vehicle having an engine with an exhaust comprises a fuel cell coupled in the engine exhaust wherein the fuel cell has an output circuit; a battery coupled with the fuel cell; and a controller receiving a signal indicative of an electric output of the fuel cell output circuit, and adjusting one of the fuel amount and the air amount supplied to the engine in response to said signal to affect air-fuel ratio of the exhaust of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Shane Elwart, James Kerns, Gopichandra Surnilla, David Bidner
  • Patent number: 7810319
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising an internal combustion engine, an exhaust system for conducting exhaust emitted by the engine, and a catalytic device associated with the exhaust system is disclosed, wherein the catalytic device comprises a catalytic conversion portion and a fuel cell portion disposed within an interior of the catalytic device, wherein the fuel cell portion comprises a first electrode and a second electrode configured to be in contact with exhaust gases in the interior of the catalytic device, the first electrode being disposed downstream of the second electrode in a direction of exhaust flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Shane Elwart, James Kerns, Gopichandra Surnilla, David Bidner
  • Patent number: D704406
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Inventor: Ralph James Kern