Patents by Inventor Joseph A. O'Brien

Joseph A. 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).

  • Publication number: 20120275066
    Abstract: A grounding system for a photovoltaic or solar cell array includes a strap positioned over adjacent solar module frames and a grounding clip positioned between the adjacent solar module frames and a docking support surface. The grounding clip has two regions of upwardly and downwardly extending protrusions and a through-hole disposed between the two regions. Each protrusion has a serrate portion adapted to penetrate through anodized layers of the solar module frames and the docking support surface for the solar module frames.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: BLUE SUNNY SKIES LLC
    Inventors: Edward Joseph O'Brien, Michael J. Moulder, Kenneth A. Layre
  • Patent number: 8284057
    Abstract: An activation system for optical media in one embodiment includes a tag having at least one pair of conductors with at least one heating element coupled to the conductors. The heating element is oriented proximate one or more activation regions on the optical media, and wherein the heating element activates the optical media. The tag in one embodiment is an elongate flexible tag material with a number of conductors that couple on one end to heating elements wherein the heating elements are disposed within a media case such that they are proximate activation regions on a media article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: NBCUniversal Media, LLC
    Inventors: Kasiraman Krishnan, Matthew Jeremiah Misner, Kaustubh Ravindra Nagarkar, Tan Zhang, Owen Scott Quirion, James Enrico Sabatini, Michael Joseph O'Brien, Paul William Buckley, Marc Brian Wisnudel
  • Publication number: 20120171095
    Abstract: A carbon dioxide absorbent composition is described, including (i) a liquid, nonaqueous silicon-based material, functionalized with one or more groups that either reversibly react with CO2 or have a high-affinity for CO2; and (ii) a hydroxy-containing solvent that is capable of dissolving both the silicon-based material and a reaction product of the silicon-based material and CO2. The absorbent may be utilized in methods to reduce carbon dioxide in an exhaust gas, and finds particular utility in power plants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael Joseph O'Brien, Robert James Perry, Tunchiao Hubert Lam, Grigorii Lev Soloveichik, Sergei Kniajanski, Larry Neil Lewis, Malgorzata Iwona Rubinsztajn, Dan Hancu
  • Publication number: 20110308390
    Abstract: In accordance with one aspect, the present invention provides a composition which contains the amino-siloxane structures I, or III, as described herein. The composition is useful for the capture of carbon dioxide from process streams. In addition, the present invention provides methods of preparing the amino-siloxane composition. Another aspect of the present invention provides methods for reducing the amount of carbon dioxide in a process stream employing the amino-siloxane compositions of the invention, as species which react with carbon dioxide to form an adduct with carbon dioxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2010
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Robert James Perry, Michael Joseph O'Brien
  • Patent number: 8048981
    Abstract: Disclosed are thermally curable compositions comprising at least one cyclic ether, an initiator selected from the group consisting of an iodonium salt, a sulfonium salt, an acylium salt, a tropylium salt, an oxonium salt, and combinations thereof, and a catalyst having structure Pd(Q)2, wherein Q is at least one ligand selected from the group consisting of a carboxylate, a halide, a ketoester, an ester, a ketone, an hydroxyl, and combinations thereof. Disclosed also are methods of curing the thermally curable compositions, and articles made therefrom. Curing methods comprise heating the composition to a suitable temperature for a period of time. Articles may comprise coated articles, shaped articles or shaped components. Compositions and methods may also be used for composite repair applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Paul Takao Furuta, Michael Joseph O'Brien
  • Patent number: 8030509
    Abstract: In accordance with one aspect, the present invention provides an amino-siloxane composition comprising at least one of structures I, II, III, IV or V said compositions being useful for the capture of carbon dioxide from gas streams such as power plant flue gases. In addition, the present invention provides methods of preparing the amino-siloxane compositions are provided. Also provided are methods for reducing the amount of carbon dioxide in a process stream employing the amino-siloxane compositions of the invention as species which react with carbon dioxide to form an adduct with carbon dioxide. The reaction of the amino-siloxane compositions provided by the present invention with carbon dioxide is reversible and thus, the method provides for multicycle use of said compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert James Perry, Larry Neil Lewis, Michael Joseph O'Brien, Grigorii Lev Soloveichik, Sergei Kniajanski, Tunchiao Hubert Lam, Julia Lam Lee, Malgorzata Iwona Rubinsztajn
  • Patent number: 7781537
    Abstract: A curable composition includes an olefinically unsaturated monomer and a poly(arylene ether) having two polymerizable groups and an intrinsic viscosity of about 0.05 to about 0.30 deciliters per gram. The composition exhibits an improved combination of high flow during molding and high post-cure stiffness and impact strength. The composition is particularly useful for fabricating plastic-packaged electronic devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Sabic Innovative Plastics IP B.V.
    Inventors: Joop Birsak, Herbert Shin-I Chao, Bryan Duffey, Amy Rene Freshour, Hugo Gerard Edward Ingelbrecht, Qiwei Liu, Michael Joseph O'Brien, Prameela Susarla, Michael Vallance, Kenneth Paul Zarnoch
  • Patent number: 7776967
    Abstract: A tire composition is provided that may include a sulfur-functional linear polyorganosiloxane and an unsaturated elastomer. The sulfur-functional linear polyorganosiloxane may include a chemically protected sulfur group, which includes a thiocarbamate, a dithiocarbamate, or a derivative or analog of thiocarbamate or dithiocarbamate. Under certain conditions, the sulfur group may react with the unsaturated elastomer. The invention includes embodiments that may relate to methods of making and using the sulfur-functional linear polyorganosiloxane in tire compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Continental AG
    Inventors: Robert James Perry, Michael Joseph O'Brien, Isabel Christin Albers, Carla Recker, William Michael York
  • Publication number: 20100194574
    Abstract: A method for detecting an aerosol plume includes emitting a light beam from a light source, the light beam having at least one light pulse, wherein the light pulse having a pulse width of between about 10 picoseconds (ps) and about 75 nanoseconds (ns), detecting backscattered light produced by the at least one light pulse interacting with particles in the aerosol plume, determining a presence of the aerosol plume based on the detected backscattered light, and outputting a signal indicating the presence of the aerosol plume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Inventors: David James Monk, Michael Joseph O'Brien, Andrew Michael Leach, Juntao Wu, Rui Chen, Boon Kwee Lee, Sergei Dolinsky, Weizhong Yan, Jan Abraham Braam, Jeffery Glenn Van Keuren
  • Publication number: 20100158976
    Abstract: A process for producing a collagen/hydroxyapatite (HA) composite scaffold comprises the steps of forming a homogenous suspension of collagen and HA in an acidic solution, lyophilising the suspension until a desired final freezing temperature is reached to produce the composite scaffold, and optionally cross-linking the composite scaffold, wherein the ratio of HA to collagen is at least 1:10 (w/w). Also provided is a collagen/hydroxyapatite (HA) composite scaffold comprising a homogenous distribution of hydroxyapatite within a porous, crosslinked, collagen matrix, wherein the ratio of HA to collagen is at least 1:10 (w/w). Suitably, the composite scaffold has a porosity of at least 99% (v/v), and a compressive stiffness of at least 0.3 KPa. Composite scaffolds of the invention may be used to provide osteoconductive bone implants and tissue engineering implants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2008
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS IN IRELAND
    Inventors: Fergal Joseph O'Brien, John Patrick Gleeson, Niamh Plunkett
  • Publication number: 20100158777
    Abstract: In accordance with one aspect, the present invention provides an amino-siloxane composition comprising at least one of structures I, II, III, IV or V said compositions being useful for the capture of carbon dioxide from gas streams such as power plant flue gases. In addition, the present invention provides methods of preparing the amino-siloxane compositions are provided. Also provided are methods for reducing the amount of carbon dioxide in a process stream employing the amino-siloxane compositions of the invention as species which react with carbon dioxide to form an adduct with carbon dioxide. The reaction of the amino-siloxane compositions provided by the present invention with carbon dioxide is reversible and thus, the method provides for multicycle use of said compositions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2009
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Robert James Perry, Larry Neil Lewis, Michael Joseph O'Brien, Grigorii Lev Soloveichik, Sergei Kniajanski, Tunchiao Hubert Lam, Julia Lam Lee, Malgorzata Iwona Rubinsztajn
  • Publication number: 20100154639
    Abstract: A carbon dioxide absorbent comprising (i) a liquid, nonaqueous silicon-based material, functionalized with one or more groups that either reversibly react with CO2 or have a high-affinity for CO2 is provided and (ii) a hydroxy-containing solvent. The absorbent may be utilized in methods to reduce carbon dioxide in an exhaust gas, and finds particular utility in power plants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2009
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Robert James Perry, Michael Joseph O'Brien, Tunchiao Hubert Lam, Grigorii Lev Soloveichik, Sergei Kniajanski, Larry Neil Lewis, Malgorzata Iwona Rubinsztajn, Dan Hancu
  • Publication number: 20100113681
    Abstract: A sulfur-containing cycloaliphatic compound, useful as a crosslinker for filled sulfur-vulcanizable elastomer compositions, is represented by the general formula: G[—CaH2a—S—S(?O)b—R]n wherein G is a saturated, monocyclic aliphatic group of valence n containing from 5 to 12 carbon atoms and optionally containing at least one halogen or a saturated monocyclic silicone [RSiO—]n[R2SiO—]p group of valence n; each R independently is a monovalent hydrocarbon of up to 20 carbon atoms; each occurrence of subscripts a and b independently is an integer wherein a is 2 to 6 and b is 1 or 2; n is an integer of from 3 to 6; and p is an integer of from 0 to 3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Inventors: Michael Joseph O'Brien, Robert James Perry, Richard W. Cruse, William Michael York, Carla Recker
  • Publication number: 20100073167
    Abstract: An activation system for optical media in one embodiment includes a tag having at least one pair of conductors with at least one heating element coupled to the conductors. The heating element is oriented proximate one or more activation regions on the optical media, and wherein the heating element activates the optical media. The tag in one embodiment is an elongate flexible tag material with a number of conductors that couple on one end to heating elements wherein the heating elements are disposed within a media case such that they are proximate activation regions on a media article.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2008
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Kasiraman Krishnan, Matthew Jeremiah Misner, Kaustubh Ravindra Nagarkar, Tan Zhang, Owen Scott Quirion, James Enrico Sabatini, Michael Joseph O'Brien, Paul William Buckley, Marc Brian Wisnudel
  • Publication number: 20090107632
    Abstract: An adhesive composition is provided which effectively bonds a sensor to a surface having a temperature up to approximately 250° C. The adhesive composition comprises an epoxy resin and a latent cationic cure catalyst effective to cure the epoxy resin. The invention also provides a method of preparing an adhesive composition comprising blending an epoxy resin and a latent cationic cure catalyst effective to cure the epoxy resin, wherein the composition is capable of effectively bonding a sensor to a surface having a temperature up to approximately 250° C. The invention further provides a method of bonding a sensor to a surface comprising the steps of applying an adhesive composition to a first surface of the sensor or to a surface area of an object to be monitored, the adhesive composition comprising an epoxy compound and a latent cationic cure catalyst effective to cure the epoxy resin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Qiwei Lu, Robert James Perry, Michael Joseph O'Brien, Ying Fan, James Norman Barshinger
  • Publication number: 20090061763
    Abstract: A method for specifying content of interest using a digital radio broadcast receiver is described. A digital radio broadcast signal includes first audio content and first program data, wherein the first program data includes information identifying a first item, and includes second audio content and second program data, wherein the second program data includes information identifying a second item. A user command entered at a user interface during reception of audio content is registered, indicating a user's interest in either the first or second audio content. It is determined whether there is an ambiguity in the content of interest. If there is an ambiguity, a first data structure is stored for the first audio content, and a second data structure is stored for the second audio content. The first data structure includes the information identifying the first item, and the second data structure includes the information identifying the second item.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2007
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Applicant: iBiquity Digital Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Michael Dillon, Harvey Chalmers, Thomas Joseph O'Brien, Gregory Nungester, Rodney Bernard Burke, Joseph F. D'Angelo
  • Publication number: 20090017195
    Abstract: An encapsulant for encapsulating electronic components and a method of making and/or using the encapsulant may be provided. An electronic device that includes the encapsulant may be provided. The curable encapsulant composition may include a mixture of a functionalized polymer and at least one reactive monomer composition. The reactive monomer composition may include a reactive monomer component that may be a low temperature solid and may be present in an amount in the reactive monomer composition a range of greater than about 20 weight percent based on the total weight of reactive monomer composition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2007
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Inventors: Michael Alan Vallance, John Robert Campbell, Kenneth Paul Zarnoch, Prameela Susarla, Bryan Patrick Duffey, Gary William Yeager, Michael Joseph O'Brien
  • Patent number: 7411007
    Abstract: A composition comprising the reaction products of MaMHbMEcDdDHeDEfTgTHhTEiQj where M=R1R2R3SiO1/2; MH=R4R5HSiO1/2; ME=R6R7RESiO1/2; D=R8R9SiO2/2; DH=R10HSiO2/2; DE=R11RESiO2/2; T=R12SiO3/2; TH=HSiO3/2; TE=RESiO3/2; and Q=SiO4/2; where R1, R2, R3, R8, R9 and R12 are independently monovalent hydrocarbon radicals having from one to sixty carbon atoms; R4, R5 and R10 are independently monovalent hydrocarbon radicals having from one to sixty carbon atoms or hydrogen; R6, R7, R11 are independently monovalent hydrocarbon radicals having from one to sixty carbon atoms or RE; each RE is independently a monovalent hydrocarbon radical containing one or more oxirane moieties having from one to sixty carbon atoms; the stoichiometric subscripts a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, and j are either zero or positive subject to the following limitations: a+b+c>1; b+e+h>1; c+f+i>1; b+e+h>c+f+i. In a preferred embodiment the reaction product of the present invention is a polyether siloxane copolymer network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Inventors: Michael Joseph O'Brien, Atchara Chaiyawat
  • Patent number: 7387784
    Abstract: A method of making a cosmetic composition comprising the reaction products of MaMHbMEcDdDHeDEfTgTHhTEiQj where M=R1R2R3SiO1/2; MH=R4R5H SiO1/2; ME=R6R7RESiO1/2; D=R8R9SiO2/2; DH=R10HSiO2/2; DE=R11RESiO2/2; T=R12SiO3/2; T H=HSiO3/2; TE=RESiO3/2; and Q=SiO4/2; where R1, R2, R3, R8, R9 and R12 are independently monovalent hydrocarbon radicals having from one to sixty carbon atoms; R4, R5 and R10 are independently monovalent hydrocarbon radicals having from one to sixty carbon atoms or hydrogen; R6, R7, R11 are independently monovalent hydrocarbon radicals having from one to sixty carbon atoms or RE; each RE is independently a monovalent hydrocarbon radical containing one or more oxirane moieties having from one to sixty carbon atoms; the stoichiometric subscripts a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, and j are either zero or positive subject to the following limitations: a+b+c>1; b+e+h>1; c+f+i>1; b+e+h>c+f+i.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Inventor: Michael Joseph O'Brien
  • Patent number: D668214
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Blue Sunny Skies LLC
    Inventors: Edward Joseph O'Brien, Michael J. Moulder, Kenneth A. Layre