Patents by Inventor John Steffens
John Steffens 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).
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Patent number: 11719213Abstract: Systems and methods for preventing activation of a starter when engine speed is above a threshold engine speed value are disclosed. In examples, an engine driven power system includes an engine and a current transformer to generate an induced current in response to an excitation current from an excitation circuit. As the excitation current is induced in response to rotational movement of the engine, the excitation current and the induced current exhibits characteristics corresponding to engine speed. A control circuit receives a signal from the current transformer representing characteristics representative of engine speed and determines the engine speed, compares the characteristics to a list of values that correlates current characteristics to engine speed, compare a list of threshold engine speed values to the calculated engine speed value, and prevents activation of an engine starter if the control circuitry determines that the engine speed exceeds the threshold engine speed value.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2020Date of Patent: August 8, 2023Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: Travis Orvedahl, John Steffens
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Publication number: 20210115890Abstract: Systems and methods for preventing activation of a starter when engine speed is above a threshold engine speed value are disclosed. In examples, an engine driven power system includes an engine and a current transformer to generate an induced current in response to an excitation current from an excitation circuit. As the excitation current is induced in response to rotational movement of the engine, the excitation current and the induced current exhibits characteristics corresponding to engine speed. A control circuit receives a signal from the current transformer representing characteristics representative of engine speed and determines the engine speed, compares the characteristics to a list of values that correlates current characteristics to engine speed, compare a list of threshold engine speed values to the calculated engine speed value, and prevents activation of an engine starter if the control circuitry determines that the engine speed exceeds the threshold engine speed value.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2020Publication date: April 22, 2021Inventors: Travis Orvedahl, John Steffens
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Patent number: 9238818Abstract: Expression cassettes causing specific regulatory control of transgene expression in plants, wherein the expression cassettes include regulatory sequences from the MADS gene family for expression of recombinant gene products in the reproductive tissue of plants for the purpose of generating maize plants with altered lignin content of the cobs.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2009Date of Patent: January 19, 2016Assignee: Syngenta Participations AGInventors: Royston E. Carter, John Steffens, Michael Nuccio, Lawrence M. Lagrimini
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Publication number: 20150203860Abstract: Methods and compositions for increasing the starch content in green tissues of a plant are provided. The method comprises down-regulating me activity of starch degradation enzymes in a plant. The resulting transgenic plants of the invention have increased starch content in green tissues and exhibit a starch excess phenotype. In one embodiment the method involves manipulating a monocot plant to down-regulate the activity of a starch degradation enzyme. The plants are useful for improving the yield of free sugars from plant biomass and increase dried green tissue storage stability.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 8, 2015Publication date: July 23, 2015Applicant: AGRIVIDA, INC.Inventors: Michael B. Lanahan, John Steffens
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Patent number: 9018447Abstract: Methods and compositions for increasing the starch content in green tissues of a plant are provided. The method comprises down-regulating the activity of starch degradation enzymes in a plant. The resulting transgenic plants of the invention have increased starch content in green tissues and exhibit a starch excess phenotype. In one embodiment the method involves manipulating a monocot plant to down-regulate the activity of a starch degradation enzyme. The plants are useful for improving the yield of free sugars from plant biomass and increase dried green tissue storage stability.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2008Date of Patent: April 28, 2015Assignee: Agrivida, Inc.Inventors: Michael B. Lanahan, John Steffens
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Patent number: 8999699Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for treating lignocellulosic material with a xylanase enzyme having xylanase activity. The enzyme is stable and active at increased pHs and temperatures. The present invention therefore provides methods for hydrolyzing lignocellulosic material, especially cellulose and hemicellulose, which are major components of the cell wall of non-woody and woody plants. The methods for hydrolyzing cellulose and hemicellulose can be used on any plant, wood or wood product, wood waste, paper pulp, paper product or paper waste or byproduct.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2011Date of Patent: April 7, 2015Assignee: Syngenta Participations AGInventors: John Steffens, Paul Oeller, Yoshimi Barron
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Publication number: 20140283215Abstract: Methods and compositions for increasing the starch content in cob tissues of a plant are provided. The method comprises down-regulating the activity of starch degradation enzymes in a plant. The resulting transgenic plants of the invention have increased starch content in cob tissues. In one embodiment the method involves manipulating a monocot plant to down-regulate the activity of a starch degradation enzyme in cob tissues. The plants are useful for improving the yield of free sugars from plant biomass.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 2, 2014Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: SYNGENTA PARTICIPATIONS AGInventor: John Steffens
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Publication number: 20130273611Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for treating lignocellulosic material with a xylanase enzyme having xylanase activity. The enzyme is stable and active at increased pHs and temperatures. The present invention therefore provides methods for hydrolyzing lignocellulosic material, especially cellulose and hemicellulose, which are major components of the cell wall of non-woody and woody plants. The methods for hydrolyzing cellulose and hemicellulose can be used on any plant, wood or wood product, wood waste, paper pulp, paper product or paper waste or byproduct.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 8, 2011Publication date: October 17, 2013Applicant: SYNGENTA BIOTECHNOLOGY INC.Inventors: John Steffens, Paul Oeller, Yoshimi Barron
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Publication number: 20120054915Abstract: Methods and compositions for increasing the starch content in cob tissues of a plant are provided. The method comprises down-regulating the activity of starch degradation enzymes in a plant. The resulting transgenic plants of the invention have increased starch content in cob tissues. In one embodiment the method involves manipulating a monocot plant to down-regulate the activity of a starch degradation enzyme in cob tissues. The plants are useful for improving the yield of free sugars from plant biomass.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 24, 2010Publication date: March 1, 2012Applicant: SYNGENTA PARTICIPATIONS AGInventor: John Steffens
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Publication number: 20100218278Abstract: A method of improving the vigor or yield of a crop plant is disclosed herein. The method involves introgressing a transgenic event comprising transgenes that encode an insecticidal protein and selectable marker protein into a crop plant, wherein the transgenic event and/or a protein thereof modulates in a transgenic crop plant tolerance to at least one abiotic stress condition when grown in a location essentially free of an insect pest population that is susceptible to the insecticidal protein.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 23, 2010Publication date: August 26, 2010Applicant: SYNGENTA PARTICIPATIONS AGInventors: Larry Von Kaster, JR., Bruce A. Battles, Wayne Alan Fithian, John Steffens, Tracy L. Mader
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Publication number: 20100071092Abstract: Expression cassettes causing specific regulatory control of transgene expression in plants, wherein the expression cassettes include regulatory sequences from the MADS gene family for expression of recombinant gene products in the reproductive tissue of plants for the purpose of generating maize plants with altered lignin content of the cobs.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 28, 2009Publication date: March 18, 2010Inventors: Royston E. Carter, John Steffens, Michael Nuccio, Lawrence M. Lagrimini
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Publication number: 20090119800Abstract: Methods and compositions for increasing the starch content in green tissues of a plant are provided. The method comprises down-regulating me activity of starch degradation enzymes in a plant. The resulting transgenic plants of the invention have increased starch content in green tissues and exhibit a starch excess phenotype. In one embodiment the method involves manipulating a monocot plant to down-regulate the activity of a starch degradation enzyme. The plants are useful for improving the yield of free sugars from plant biomass and increase dried green tissue storage stability.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 4, 2008Publication date: May 7, 2009Applicant: SYNGENTA PARTICIPATIONS AGInventors: Michael B. Lanahan, John Steffens
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Publication number: 20060260011Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and genetic constructs for the control of expression of enzymes involved in lignin biosynthesis in plants. The method involves the use of double-stranded RNAi to down-regulate or knock out the expression of the CAD and COMT genes. In particular embodiments the method involves the use of cob-specific or cob-preferred promoters for down-regulation of lignin biosynthesis in the cobs of corn plants.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 24, 2006Publication date: November 16, 2006Applicant: Syngenta Participations AGInventors: Royston Carter, John Steffens
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Publication number: 20030135880Abstract: This invention describes methods, transgenic plants and transgenic microorganisms for the biosynthesis of halogenated natural products, where the halogenation is substrate and regiospecific. In particular, this invention relates to the use of halogenated metabolites, produced by the method of the invention, for the protection of host organisms against pathogens, more particularly, to the protection of plants against phytopathogens. In this aspect, the invention provides transgenic plants with enhanced resistance to phytopathogens, and biocontrol organisms with enhanced biocontrol properties.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 2, 2002Publication date: July 17, 2003Inventors: John Steffens, Chris Batie, Jon Marquiz Dietz, Jian Dong, Kim Puloma Kamdar, Dwight Steven Hill