Patents by Inventor Jamie J. Childress

Jamie J. Childress 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: 12383640
    Abstract: Assemblies and methods for disinfecting surfaces using ultraviolet (UV) light are disclosed. In one aspect, a UV light-emitting assembly comprises a plurality of UV light emitters, and first and second UV light emitter supports seating the UV light emitters. A first heat sink is affixed to the first UV light emitter support and a second heat sink is affixed to the second UV light emitter support. A thermally conductive and electrically insulating plate contacts the first heat sink and the second heat sink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2025
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Arthur E. Brockschmidt, Jr., Jamie J. Childress
  • Patent number: 12350410
    Abstract: A system and method include a duct including an internal air passage. One or more ultraviolet (UV) light emitters are coupled to the duct. The UV light emitter(s) are configured to emit UV light into air that passes through the internal air passage. An air inlet is coupled to the duct. The air inlet is in fluid communication with the internal air passage. An air outlet is coupled to the duct. The air outlet is in fluid communication with the internal air passage. A blower is disposed within the duct. The blower is configured to draw the air into the internal air passage through the air inlet, and discharge the air from the internal air passage through the air outlet. The air is disinfected within the internal air passage by the UV light emitted by the one or more UV lights. A sensor is coupled to one or more of the duct, the air inlet, or the air outlet. The sensor is configured to output signals. A control unit is in communication with the UV light emitter(s), the blower, and the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2025
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Jamie J. Childress
  • Patent number: 12337071
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for disinfection. One embodiment is an apparatus that includes a disinfecting device. The disinfecting device includes a shell configured to rotate about an axis, ultraviolet emitters that are configured to emit UV light, and rotational couplings that couple the UV emitters to the shell, and provide for multi-axial rotation of the UV emitters relative to the shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2025
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventor: Jamie J. Childress
  • Patent number: 12318494
    Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems for decontaminating surfaces on aircraft from pathogens using UV lights with wavelengths between about 200 nanometers and about 240 nanometers. These wavelengths are able to effectively decontaminate pathogens while remaining safe to humans. In other words, humans can remain in decontamination zones during operation of these systems. Furthermore, UV transparent apparatuses, such as door handles, allow decontamination of all surfaces of these apparatuses whether these surfaces are directly or indirectly exposed to the UV light. The indirect exposure is provided by the UV lights passing through the apparatus. Therefore, even surfaces without a line of sight to UV light sources are decontaminated. As such, these methods and systems allow to achieve effective decontamination of an apparatus with a complex surface (e,g., a door handle) without requiring many UV light sources positioned around this apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2025
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventor: Jamie J. Childress
  • Patent number: 12311083
    Abstract: A power management system and method for a vehicle includes a plurality of ultraviolet (UV) light sub-systems within an internal cabin of the vehicle. A power management control unit is in communication with the plurality of UV light sub-systems. The power management control unit is configured to adaptively control power supplied to the plurality of UV light sub-systems based on power usage data. The power supplied to the plurality of UV light sub-systems changes. The power usage data includes information regarding adaptable power requirements for the plurality of UV light sub-systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2025
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Jamie J. Childress, Kevin S. Callahan, Teresa A. King
  • Patent number: 12311066
    Abstract: A system and method for sanitizing a target zone include an infrared (IR) sensor, a control unit, and one or more ultraviolet (UV) lamps. The IR sensor is configured to generate thermal image data of a target zone within a space. The control unit includes one or more processors and is communicatively connected to the IR sensor and the one or more UV lamps. The control unit is configured to determine an occupancy status of the target zone based on the thermal image data and a reference temperature of the space. Each of the one or more UV lamps is configured to emit UV light into the target zone. The control unit is configured to operate the one or more UV lamps based on the determined occupancy status of the target zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2025
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventor: Jamie J. Childress
  • Patent number: 12288951
    Abstract: A system for connecting an ultraviolet (UV) lamp with an electrical coupling includes a braid attachment coupled to the UV lamp, and one or both of a compressive wrap secured around at least a portion of the braid attachment, or a clamp secured around at least a portion of the braid attachment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2025
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Arthur Edward Brockschmidt, Jr., Kevin S. Callahan, Jamie J. Childress
  • Patent number: 12246106
    Abstract: A portable sanitizing method includes moving a cover of a case assembly between an open position that exposes a storage chamber and a closed position; storing a wand assembly including a sanitizing head having an ultraviolet (UV) lamp in the storage chamber when not in use; and removing the wand assembly from the storage chamber to disinfect one or more components with UV light emitted by the UV lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2025
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Arthur Edward Brockschmidt, Jr., Kevin S. Callahan, Jamie J. Childress, Michael Kipling Klein, Douglas Alan Brown, Christopher Edward Plass, Teresa A. King
  • Patent number: 12246103
    Abstract: A sanitizing system and method include multiple ultraviolet (UV) lamps and a power supply module. The UV lamps each include one or more UV emitters configured to emit UV light. The UV lamps are positioned to emit the UV light towards one or more target components within a space. The power supply module is electrically connected to each of the UV lamps and configured to provide electrical energy to the UV lamps to power the UV emitters to sanitize the one or more target components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2025
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Jamie J. Childress, Arthur Edward Brockschmidt, Jr.
  • Patent number: 12233178
    Abstract: A system and a method include a wand assembly including a sanitizing head having an ultraviolet (UV) lamp configured to emit UV light to sanitize a surface of a component. The wand assembly further includes a first monitored member. The system also includes a second monitored member. A verification control unit is in communication with the first monitored member and the second monitored member. The verification control unit is configured to detect a speed of the wand assembly based on a comparison of the first monitored member in relation to the second monitored member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Jamie J. Childress
  • Patent number: 12220494
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for disinfecting. One embodiment includes a disinfecting device. The disinfecting device includes a housing having an attachment surface and an illumination surface that are opposed along an axis, and a plurality of adjustable ultraviolet (UV) emitters disposed at the housing that have fields of illumination that are adjustable along multiple axes via rotational couplings to illuminate an enclosed space that the illumination surface faces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventor: Jamie J. Childress
  • Patent number: 12172753
    Abstract: A system of monitoring carry-on items for a flight of an aircraft includes one or more cameras positioned to capture images of carry-on items associated with passengers of an aircraft. The system includes an interface configured to receive image data from the one or more cameras. The system also includes one or more processors coupled to the interface. The one or more processors are configured to analyze the image data to determine characteristics of a carry-on item. The one or more processors are configured to determine that one or more alert conditions are satisfied based on a comparison of one or more alert criteria to the characteristics of the carry-on item and data associated with the aircraft. The one or more processors are also configured to send, to one or more devices, an output based on satisfaction of the one or more alert conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventor: Jamie J. Childress
  • Patent number: 12165864
    Abstract: Modules, systems and methods that disinfect surfaces using ultraviolet (UV) light are disclosed. In one aspect, a UV light-emitting module comprises an enclosure comprising a rear wall and a face plate spaced from the rear wall and comprising a light-transmitting aperture. At least one sidewall extends between the rear wall and the face plate, and at least one UV light emitter is within the enclosure. A ventilation opening is located in one or more walls selected from (1) the rear wall and (2) the at least one sidewall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Jamie J. Childress, Arthur E. Brockschmidt, Jr.
  • Patent number: 12144904
    Abstract: An ultraviolet (UV) light sanitizing system includes an electromagnetic interference (EMI) reducing cover configured to couple to a housing of a UV lamp assembly having a UV light source that is configured to emit UV light through a light outlet of the housing. The EMI reducing cover is further configured to be disposed one or more of within, below, or over the light outlet. The EMI reducing cover includes one or more grids including beams and light openings defined between the beams. The light openings provide open areas through which the UV light emitted from the UV light source passes, and wherein the EMI reducing cover includes at least 90% open space. In at least one embodiment, the beams include at least one surface that is transverse to a direction of the UV light that is to be emitted from the UV light source. In at least one embodiment, wherein the EMI reducing cover includes an interior grid and an exterior grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Jamie J. Childress, Jeffrey Scott Bissell
  • Patent number: 12133926
    Abstract: A sanitizing system includes a plurality of ultraviolet (UV) lamps mounted at various locations within an internal cabin of a vehicle. The UV lamps are configured to receive electrical power from a power source onboard the vehicle and to emit UV light into the internal cabin on a continuous basis during a trip of the vehicle. The UV lamps are positioned such that the emitted UV light disinfects air within the internal cabin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2024
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Jamie J. Childress, Colin Diehl, Mateus Daczko, Nels Olson
  • Patent number: 12128153
    Abstract: Described herein is a decontamination device for use in vehicle applications. The decontamination device includes a device body and an ultraviolet (UV) light, and the decontamination device is 12-24 inches in length and has a narrow form factor for fitting into crevices and nooks of a vehicle. The UV light includes a first UV light source disposed on a first side of the device body and a second UV light source disposed on a second side of the device body and that is opposite the first side. The first and second UV light sources are coupled to the device body and configured to move together relative to the device body. The first UV light source is operable to emit light in an opposite direction than light emitted from the second UV light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Jamie J. Childress
  • Patent number: 12076452
    Abstract: A system and method for sanitizing a target space include an ultraviolet (UV) lamp, an occupancy sensor, and a control unit operably connected to the occupancy sensor and the UV lamp. The UV lamp is configured to emit UV light into the target space. The occupancy sensor is configured to monitor the target space and generate sensor signals indicative of an occupancy of the target space by at least one person. The control unit is configured to receive the sensor signals generated by the occupancy sensor and to modulate an irradiance of the UV light emitted by the UV lamp over time based on the occupancy of the target space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Jamie J. Childress
  • Patent number: 12053554
    Abstract: Modules, systems and methods that disinfect surfaces using ultraviolet (UV) light are disclosed. In one aspect, a UV light-emitting module comprises an enclosure including an aluminum rear wall comprising a ventilation opening and a face plate spaced from the rear wall and comprising a light-transmitting aperture. Four aluminum sidewalls extend between the rear wall and the face plate, with at least one sidewall comprising a ventilation opening. At least one fluoropolymer UV light emitter support within the enclosure seats a plurality of UV light emitters that each comprise an elongated lamp comprising a first end having a first terminal and an opposing second end having a second terminal. Lead wires electrically couple the terminals of the elongated lamps to a power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Jamie J. Childress, Arthur E. Brockschmidt, Jr.
  • Patent number: 12023413
    Abstract: Modules, systems and methods that disinfect surfaces using ultraviolet (UV) light are disclosed. In one aspect, a UV light-emitting module comprises an enclosure including an aluminum rear wall comprising a ventilation opening and a face plate spaced from the rear wall and comprising a light-transmitting aperture. Four aluminum sidewalls extend between the rear wall and the face plate, with at least one sidewall comprising a ventilation opening. At least one aluminum UV light emitter support within the enclosure is electrically coupled to plurality of UV light emitters. A thermally conductive and electrically insulating separator is located between the support and the rear wall. At least one electrical conductor extends through the rear wall and the separator into the support, and an electrically insulating bushing extends between the conductor and surfaces of the rear wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Jamie J. Childress, Arthur E. Brockschmidt, Jr.
  • Patent number: D1052155
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Christopher Edward Plass, Jamie J. Childress