Patents by Inventor John A. Thoma

John A. Thoma 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: 11469003
    Abstract: Examples of advanced fuel cycles for fusion reactors are described. Examples include fuel cycles for use in field reverse configuration (FRC) plasma reactors. In some examples, reaction gases may be removed from a fusion reactor between pulses (e.g. plasmoid collisions). In some examples, a D-3He reaction is performed, with the 3He provided from decay of byproducts of previous reactions (e.g. tritium).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: HELION ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: John Thomas Slough, David Edwin Kirtley, Christopher James Pihl
  • Patent number: 11466484
    Abstract: A latch system for vehicle doors includes a powered latch including a powered actuator that is configured to unlatch the powered latch. An interior unlatch input feature such as an unlatch switch can be actuated by a user to provide an unlatch request. The system may include a controller that is operably connected to the powered actuator of the powered latch. The controller is configured such that it does not unlatch the powered latch if a vehicle speed is greater than a predefined value unless the interior latch feature is actuated at least two times according to predefined criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: H. Paul Tsvi Linden, Daniel Carl Bejune, John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Kosta Papanikolaou, Noah Barlow Mass, Lisa Therese Boran, Ronald Patrick Brombach, Jim Michael Weinfurther, Robert Bruce Kleve, John Thomas Ricks
  • Patent number: 11460140
    Abstract: A multi-pump pump system includes at least two pumps and a system pulsation dampener sized and configured to reduce a magnitude of pressure pulsations within a combined flow output by the at least two pumps, together with at least one mini-dampener coupled between the outlet of one of the pumps and header pipe(s) carrying flow from one of the pumps into the system pulsation dampener, the at least one mini-dampener sized and configured to reduce the magnitude of pressure pulsations over the system pulsation dampener alone. Optionally, a mini-dampener may be coupled between each pump and the system pulsation dampener. A single header pipe may carry combined flow from the at least two pumps into the system pulsation dampener, or separate header pipes may carry individual flows from the pumps into the system pulsation dampener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Performance Pulsation Control, Inc.
    Inventor: John Thomas Rogers
  • Patent number: 11457691
    Abstract: A method, computer program product, and a system where a processor(s), in a computing environment comprised of multiple containers comprising modules, includes a processor(s) continuously obtaining pressure data from pressure sensors embedded in electrostatic dissipative (ESD) footwear. The processor(s) determines that the obtained pressure data indicates a pressure level of a pre-determined threshold and the given threshold is sustained for a pre-determined interval of time in some of the items. The processor(s) accesses one or more voltage sensors embedded in each item of the items and obtains voltage data by utilizing an ESD floor that the items are in contact with as a ground reference. The processor(s) validates functionality of some of the items and functionality of the ESD floor, based on monitoring the voltage data from the one or more voltage sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ho-Yiu Lam, John Thomas Kinnear, Jr., Sia Kai Julian Tan
  • Publication number: 20220305239
    Abstract: An apparatus for performing a medical procedure includes a shaft having proximal and distal ends, a double balloon attached to the distal end of the shaft, and one or more fluid lines disposed in the shaft. The double balloon includes a first balloon, a second balloon, and a bridge extending between the first and second balloons. The fluid line(s) are fluidly coupled to the double balloon and configured to change an inflation state of the double balloon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2022
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Inventor: John Thomas Gale
  • Patent number: 11456653
    Abstract: A bi-polar hybrid stepper motor includes a stator having a primary winding. The stator and the primary winding are positioned within a housing. A rotor has a magnetic component. The rotor is rotationally operable relative to the stator. An axial coil assembly is positioned within the housing and located proximate ends of the rotor and having a secondary winding. At least a portion of the magnetic component of the rotor is produced by the axial coil assembly in an energized state. The energized state produces an electromagnetic communication between the rotor and the stator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: GHSP, Inc.
    Inventors: Larry Duane Ridge, John Thomas Bagley
  • Patent number: 11456022
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to apparatuses and methods for transmission line termination. In one embodiment an apparatus includes a stack of uniform memory dies and a storage controller. Each uniform memory die in the stack of uniform memory dies couples to a transmission line in series through wire bonds to form a transmission path. Each memory die includes an on-die termination resistance circuit connected to the transmission line. The on-die termination resistance circuit provides a minimum termination resistance. The storage controller addresses a target uniform memory die of the stack of uniform memory dies for an operation. The storage controller enables the on-die termination resistance circuits of a plurality of uniform memory dies along the transmission path. The storage controller transmits a data signal for the operation to the target uniform memory die with the on-die termination resistance circuit enabled for the plurality of uniform memory dies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John Thomas Contreras, Srinivas Rajendra, Sayed Mobin, Rehan Ahmed Zakai
  • Patent number: 11454040
    Abstract: A pool cover assembly includes a first encapsulation member defining a first side of a pool cover encapsulation, the first encapsulation member comprising a first mating feature. The pool cover assembly further includes a second encapsulation member defining a second side of the pool cover encapsulation, the second encapsulation member comprising a second mating feature. And the pool cover assembly further includes a corner endcap member comprising a third mating feature and a fourth mating feature. The first encapsulation member is coupleable to the corner endcap by the first mating feature and the third mating feature, and the second encapsulation member is coupleable to the corner endcap by the second mating feature and the fourth mating feature. The corner endcap member couples with the first encapsulation member and the second encapsulation member to form a corner of the pool cover encapsulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Latham Pool Products, Inc.
    Inventors: John Thomas Carl Peterson, Mathew Dalton
  • Patent number: 11447233
    Abstract: A flap support structure incorporates an auxiliary flap support attachment fitting and an auxiliary flap support track. A primary load pin couples the auxiliary support track to the auxiliary flap support attachment fitting and reacts operating loads on the flap. At least one fuse pin extends through the primary load pin to limit translation of the primary load pin relative to the attachment fitting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Bryan J. Gruner, John Thomas B. Homrich
  • Patent number: 11440830
    Abstract: An apparatus can include a wedge including a pair of inclined surface portions converging along a downstream direction to form a root of the wedge. The apparatus can further include an edge director intersecting with at least one of the pair of inclined surface portions. The edge director can include an interior cavity. In some embodiments, the apparatus can further include a heating device positioned within the interior cavity, wherein the heating device can include a plurality of heating segments. In further embodiments, the apparatus can further include a plurality of coils of wire positioned within the interior cavity, wherein each of the plurality of coils of wire can include windings that may be wound about a corresponding linear coil axis that extends in the downstream direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Chao Feng Hsiao, John Thomas Pine, III
  • Publication number: 20220279743
    Abstract: Modular systems for propagating plants in at least one of a hydroponic environment and an aquaponics environment may include at least one tank configured to hold liquid. A modular drive assembly may be carried by the at least one tank. At least one propagation module may be drivingly engaged for rotation by the modular drive assembly. The at least one propagation module may be configured to support and propagate at least one plant. At least one pump may be disposed in fluid communication with the at least one tank. The at least one pump configured to pump the liquid from the at least one tank through the at least one propagation module. Modular methods for propagating plants in at least one of a hydroponic environment and an aquaponics environment are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2022
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Inventor: John Thomas Cross
  • Patent number: 11429360
    Abstract: A method of using artificial intelligence to provide source code from an original programming language in a target programming language showing regions of low confidence. The method includes receiving, by a computing device, a code base in an original programming language. The computing device further provides the code base in the original programming language to a target programming language using an artificial intelligence tool. The computing device additionally displays the code base in the target programming language using a visualization tool in a visual interface. The computing device still further displays the regions of uncertainty to a human user in the visual interface. The regions of uncertainty provide low confidence regions of the code base in the target programming language for targeted user intervention. The regions of low confidence correlate with violations to provide displayed actionable insight regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Mayank Agarwal, Kartik Talamadupula, Justin David Weisz, Stephanie Houde, Fernando Carlos Martinez, Michael Muller, John Thomas Richards, Steven I. Ross
  • Patent number: 11401075
    Abstract: A yogurt-based food product is packaged in a container, including a bottom wall and a sidewall, by depositing a mix-in in a center of the bottom wall and then driving the mix-in from the center of the bottom wall to the sidewall with a blast of gas. Afterwards, a dairy or plant-based product is deposited in the container. The mix-in is in contact with the bottom wall and the sidewall, and a height of the mix-in is greater at the sidewall than at a center point of the bottom wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Rob G Clements, Paul Allen Grube, William R Lloyd, III, John Thomas Lund, David L Persells, Terry W Ziegler
  • Patent number: 11404235
    Abstract: An x-ray generating unit includes an x-ray tube that is substantially transparent to x-rays and that defines a vacuum therein. A cathode is disposed within the x-ray tube and defines a plurality of spaced apart cavities. An anode is spaced apart from the cathode and includes a material that emits x-rays when impacted by electrons. A plurality of filaments is each disposed in a different one of the cavities defined by the cathode and each is electrically coupled to the cathode. Each filament emits a focused electron beam directed to a different predetermined spot on the anode upon application of a predetermined voltage between the cathode and the anode, thereby causing the anode to generate x-rays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Inventor: John Thomas Canazon
  • Publication number: 20220238199
    Abstract: A system for monitoring drug delivery including a container having a medicine, the medicine associated with a patient and a code on an outside of the container. The system also including a user device having a camera and software executing on a computer readable medium for initiating recording of a video with the camera, prompting the patient to show the code in the video and show the taking of the medicine in the video. The system further includes a computer receiving the video, the computer having a datastore with a plurality of profiles, one of the plurality of profiles being a patient profile associated with the patient and software executing on a computer readable medium for storing the video, verifying the association of the medicine and the patient, identifying movement in the video, and generating a score indicative of the likelihood the medicine was taken by the patient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2021
    Publication date: July 28, 2022
    Inventors: Michael Giles, John Thomas Menchaca, Avinash Prasanna Jayaraman, Dimitri Macris
  • Patent number: 11395495
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods of producing liquid sabadilla extract. The invention also relates to methods for controlling pests by application of liquid sabadilla seed extract to pests' environment or to pests.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: McLaughlin Gormley King Company
    Inventors: John Thomas Bergman, Darrick David Unger
  • Publication number: 20220232377
    Abstract: A mobile device can select an identifier from a set of identifiers stored by the mobile device. The mobile device can communicate a request for a communication link with a communication system, and the request for the communication link can include the identifier. The communication link can be established based on the identifier. The mobile device can select a second identifier from the set of identifiers. The mobile device can communicate a second request for a second communication link with the communication system, and the second request can include the second identifier. The second communication link can be established based on the second identifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2022
    Publication date: July 21, 2022
    Inventors: Steven Daniel McCutchen, Todd Alan Pressley, John Thomas Green
  • Patent number: 11384887
    Abstract: A nested gas charged cartridge for insertion in a cylinder to reduce pulsations in a fluid pumping system includes a first gas cartridge and a second gas cartridge, and optionally a third gas cartridge. Each of the first, second, and third gas cartridges independently and cumulatively reduce pulsations entering the cylinder. A diameter of the third gas cartridge is less than a diameter of the second gas cartridge, which both are less than a diameter of a first gas cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Performance Pulsation Control, Inc.
    Inventor: John Thomas Rogers
  • Publication number: 20220212493
    Abstract: Implementations disclosed and claimed herein provide a wheel cover system. In one implementation, an inward force exerted against a wheel cover of the wheel cover assembly in an inward direction towards the hub is received. The inward force overcomes a spring bias of a spring of the receiver and translates the wheel cover assembly in the inward direction. A first rotational force rotating the wheel cover assembly in a first direction is received. The first post guides and engages the first hook, and the second post guides and engages the second hook during rotation. A first positive feedback is generated in response to the inward force and the first rotational force. The wheel cover assembly is releasably locked to the receiver by translating the wheel cover assembly in the outward direction using an outward force generated by the spring bias. The outward force provides a second positive feedback.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2021
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Inventors: Jonathan E. Fleck, John Thomas Calhoun
  • Publication number: 20220213945
    Abstract: Technologies are described for a cap sensor unit for an energy absorber. The cap sensor unit may comprise a housing. The housing may be configured to be attachable to, and removable from, an end of a piston of the energy absorber. Walls of the housing may define a pocket for a sensor within the housing. The caps sensor unit may comprise the sensor. The sensor may be within the housing. The sensor may be a wireless position switch. The sensor may include a wireless transmitter. The sensor may be configured to send a signal to a receiver when a force impacts the cap sensor unit. The sensor may be in a load path of the force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2019
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Applicant: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises LLC
    Inventors: Daniel P. KOWALIK, Malcolm GIBBINS, John Thomas KOSCIELNIAK