Patents by Inventor Joseph G. Smith
Joseph G. Smith 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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Publication number: 20240112228Abstract: Systems and methods are described for generating efficient iterative electronic recommendation structures. In various aspects, one or more processors aggregate a plurality of ratings vectors, where each ratings vector is associated with a vector type and contains one or more content ranking metrics associated with one or more users. The one or more processors generate similarity pairing values from the plurality of ratings vectors, where each similarity pairing value is based on a similarity mapping between a first ratings vector and a second ratings vector. The one or more processors further generate an electronic recommendation structure based on the similarity pairing values, where the electronic recommendation structure includes a bi-directional look-up interface that is configured to return a bi-directional recommendation value after receiving a lookup request for either the vector type of the first ratings vector or the vector type of the second ratings vector.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 4, 2023Publication date: April 4, 2024Inventors: Taylor Griffin Smith, Jason Matthew White, Joseph David Albright, Tim G. Sanidas
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Publication number: 20240094357Abstract: In one embodiment, a lidar system includes a light source configured to emit local-oscillator (LO) light and pulses of light, the emitted pulses of light including a first emitted pulse of light, where an optical frequency of the first emitted pulse of light is offset from an optical frequency of the LO light by a first frequency offset. The lidar system further includes a receiver configured to detect the LO light and a first received pulse of light, the first received pulse of light including light from the first emitted pulse of light scattered by a target located a distance from the lidar system. The receiver includes a detector, where: the LO light and the first received pulse of light are coherently mixed together at the detector, and the detector is configured to produce a photocurrent signal corresponding to the coherent mixing.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 22, 2023Publication date: March 21, 2024Inventors: Philip W. Smith, David H. Minasi, Joseph G. LaChapelle, Roger S. Cannon, Robert D. Still, Elias Soto, Zachary Ronald Dylan Thomas Bush
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Patent number: 11931312Abstract: A therapy system includes a patient support apparatus and a pneumatic therapy device that is coupleable to the patient support apparatus. The therapy device may receive power and air flow from the patient support apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2020Date of Patent: March 19, 2024Assignee: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.Inventors: Eric D. Benz, John G. Byers, Scott M. Corbin, Richard H. Heimbrock, Michael A. Knecht, Bradley T. Smith, Lori Ann Zapfe, Robert M. Zerhusen, Kenneth L. Lilly, Jonathan D. Turner, James L. Walke, Joseph T. Canter, Richard J. Schuman, Sr., John V. Harmeyer
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Patent number: 11760738Abstract: Copoly(imide oxetane) materials are disclosed that can exhibit a low surface energy while possessing the mechanical, thermal, chemical and optical properties associated with polyimides. The copoly(imide oxetane)s are prepared using a minor amount of fluorinated oxetane-derived oligomer with sufficient fluorine-containing segments of the copoly(imide oxetane)s migrate to the exterior surface of the polymeric material to yield low surface energies. Thus the coatings and articles of manufacture made with the copoly(imide oxetane)s of this invention are characterized as having an anisotropic fluorine composition. The low surface energies can be achieved with very low content of fluorinated oxetane-derived oligomer. The copolymers of this invention can enhance the viability of polyimides for many applications and may be acceptable where homopolyimide materials have been unacceptable.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2021Date of Patent: September 19, 2023Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Adminstrator of NASAInventors: Christopher J. Wohl, Jr., John W. Connell, Emilie J. Siochi, Joseph G. Smith, Jr.
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Patent number: 11746183Abstract: In an illustrative example, one or more coating formulations may be used and may have characteristics useful in different situations. During evaluations, a plurality of coating formulations comprising epoxy resins and diamine hardeners were prepared and evaluated with regards to impact ice adhesion strength and durability. Alone, such coating formulations provided a significantly reduced impact ice adhesion strength as compared to uncoated aluminum and/or stainless steel surfaces. However, a durability of the coatings, when applied to aluminum or stainless steel surfaces, was insufficient to be considered for use on external aircraft surfaces. By including nano-sized and/or micro-sized particles as additives to the coating formulations, resulted in improved durability without significantly reducing ice adhesion performance of the resin base.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2019Date of Patent: September 5, 2023Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Administrator of NASAInventors: Christopher J. Wohl, Joseph G. Smith, Jr., Devon Beck, Lilly Lynn Balderson, Yi Lin
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Publication number: 20220024706Abstract: A horticultural container dispensing system has a gravity-fed pot supply source having a plurality of linearly spaced pot paths and supports a plurality of pot stacks along the pot paths in a nested configuration. A pot provisioning apparatus has retention members to selectively release an end-most one of the plurality of pots from each pot stack at a release location. A pot engagement apparatus has a plurality of pot gripper devices associated with the pot paths to selectively engage an internal surface of the end-most one of the pots in the respective pot stack at the release location. A carriage apparatus selectively translates the pot gripper devices between the release location and a dispense location. The pot gripper devices selectively disengage the internal surface of the end-most one of the pots, respectively, at the dispense location. Pot grippers and provisioning apparatuses are interchangeable to accommodate differing pot sizes and shapes.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 21, 2021Publication date: January 27, 2022Inventors: Robert N. Lando, Joseph G. Smith, Neil M. Mabrouk, George L. Andulics, Charles M. Kirschner, Kane D. Hogan, Damon van Zanen, Laurens de Boer, Robert Karl Doepper
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Publication number: 20220017479Abstract: Copoly(imide oxetane) materials are disclosed that can exhibit a low surface energy while possessing the mechanical, thermal, chemical and optical properties associated with polyimides. The copoly(imide oxetane)s are prepared using a minor amount of fluorinated oxetane-derived oligomer with sufficient fluorine-containing segments of the copoly(imide oxetane)s migrate to the exterior surface of the polymeric material to yield low surface energies. Thus the coatings and articles of manufacture made with the copoly(imide oxetane)s of this invention are characterized as having an anisotropic fluorine composition. The low surface energies can be achieved with very low content of fluorinated oxetane-derived oligomer. The copolymers of this invention can enhance the viability of polyimides for many applications and may be acceptable where homopolyimide materials have been unacceptable.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2021Publication date: January 20, 2022Inventors: Christopher J. Wohl, JR., John W. Connell, Emilie J. Siochi, Joseph G. Smith, JR.
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Patent number: 11149165Abstract: Embodiments provide ice adhesion mitigating surface coatings and methods for generating the same. Embodiments may provide anti-icing coating with at least one monomeric species exhibiting molecular flexibility. The molecular flexibility in the monomeric species may be imparted through an aliphatic or heteroaliphatic chain that may exist as a portion of the monomer backbone, as a pendant group, or as both the portion of the monomer backbone and the pendant group. In various embodiments epoxy coatings including an epoxy resin and an amine-terminated hardener may be generated. At least a portion of the amine-terminated hardener may include at least a monomeric species that exhibits molecular flexibility arising from an aliphatic chain or heteroaliphatic chain that may be within the polymer backbone and/or may persist as a pendant group.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2019Date of Patent: October 19, 2021Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Administrator of NASAInventors: Christopher J. Wohl, Jr., Joseph G. Smith, Jr.
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Patent number: 11130742Abstract: Copoly(imide oxetane) materials are disclosed that can exhibit a low surface energy while possessing the mechanical, thermal, chemical and optical properties associated with polyimides. The copoly(imide oxetane)s are prepared using a minor amount of fluorinated oxetane-derived oligomer with sufficient fluorine-containing segments of the copoly(imide oxetane)s migrate to the exterior surface of the polymeric material to yield low surface energies. Thus the coatings and articles of manufacture made with the copoly(imide oxetane)s of this invention are characterized as having an anisotropic fluorine composition. The low surface energies can be achieved with very low content of fluorinated oxetane-derived oligomer. The copolymers of this invention can enhance the viability of polyimides for many applications and may be acceptable where homopolyimide materials have been unacceptable.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2020Date of Patent: September 28, 2021Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Administrator of NASAInventors: Christopher J. Wohl, Jr., John W. Connell, Emilie J. Siochi, Joseph G. Smith, Jr.
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Publication number: 20210147693Abstract: Various embodiments provide ice mitigating surface coatings and methods for applying ice mitigating surface coatings. Various embodiment ice mitigating surface coatings may be formed by hydrolysis of one or more substituted n-alkyldimethylalkoxysilanes terminated with functionalities having the following characteristics with respect to water: 1) non-polar interactions; 2) hydrogen bonding through donor and acceptor interactions; or 3) hydrogen bonding through acceptor interactions only. The substituted n-alkyldimethylalkoxysilanes of the various embodiments may include methyl terminated species, hydroxyl terminated species, ethylene glycol terminated species, and methoxyethylene glycol terminated species. Various embodiment ice mitigating surface coatings may be applied to metal surfaces, such as aluminum surfaces. Various embodiment substituted n-alkyldimethylalkoxysilanes may have an aliphatic chain that is saturated and liner or branched or that is partially unsaturated and liner or branched.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 26, 2021Publication date: May 20, 2021Inventors: Joseph G. Smith, JR., Christopher J. Wohl, JR.
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Patent number: 10899937Abstract: Various embodiments provide ice mitigating surface coatings and methods for applying ice mitigating surface coatings. Various embodiment ice mitigating surface coatings may be formed by hydrolysis of one or more substituted n-alkyldimethylalkoxysilanes terminated with functionalities having the following characteristics with respect to water: 1) non-polar interactions; 2) hydrogen bonding through donor and acceptor interactions; or 3) hydrogen bonding through acceptor interactions only. The substituted n-alkyldimethylalkoxysilanes of the various embodiments may include methyl terminated species, hydroxyl terminated species, ethylene glycol terminated species, and methoxyethylene glycol terminated species. Various embodiment ice mitigating surface coatings may be applied to metal surfaces, such as aluminum surfaces. Various embodiment substituted n-alkyldimethylalkoxysilanes may have an aliphatic chain that is saturated and liner or branched or that is partially unsaturated and liner or branched.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2015Date of Patent: January 26, 2021Assignee: U.S.A. as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationInventors: Joseph G. Smith, Jr., Christopher J. Wohl, Jr.
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Publication number: 20200247770Abstract: Copoly(imide oxetane) materials are disclosed that can exhibit a low surface energy while possessing the mechanical, thermal, chemical and optical properties associated with polyimides. The copoly(imide oxetane)s are prepared using a minor amount of fluorinated oxetane-derived oligomer with sufficient fluorine-containing segments of the copoly(imide oxetane)s migrate to the exterior surface of the polymeric material to yield low surface energies. Thus the coatings and articles of manufacture made with the copoly(imide oxetane)s of this invention are characterized as having an anisotropic fluorine composition. The low surface energies can be achieved with very low content of fluorinated oxetane-derived oligomer. The copolymers of this invention can enhance the viability of polyimides for many applications and may be acceptable where homopolyimide materials have been unacceptable.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 21, 2020Publication date: August 6, 2020Inventors: Christopher J. Wohl, JR., John W. Connell, Emilie J. Siochi, Joseph G. Smith, JR.
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Patent number: 10626098Abstract: Copoly(imide oxetane) materials are disclosed that can exhibit a low surface energy while possessing the mechanical, thermal, chemical and optical properties associated with polyimides. The copoly(imide oxetane)s are prepared using a minor amount of fluorinated oxetane-derived oligomer with sufficient fluorine-containing segments of the copoly(imide oxetane)s migrate to the exterior surface of the polymeric material to yield low surface energies. Thus the coatings and articles of manufacture made with the copoly(imide oxetane)s of this invention are characterized as having an anisotropic fluorine composition. The low surface energies can be achieved with very low content of fluorinated oxetane-derived oligomer. The copolymers of this invention can enhance the viability of polyimides for many applications and may be acceptable where homopolyimide materials have been unacceptable.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2017Date of Patent: April 21, 2020Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Administrator of NASAInventors: Christopher J. Wohl, Jr., John W. Connell, Emilie J. Siochi, Joseph G. Smith, Jr.
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Publication number: 20200079897Abstract: In an illustrative example, one or more coating formulations may be used and may have characteristics useful in different situations. During evaluations, a plurality of coating formulations comprising epoxy resins and diamine hardeners were prepared and evaluated with regards to impact ice adhesion strength and durability. Alone, such coating formulations provided a significantly reduced impact ice adhesion strength as compared to uncoated aluminum and/or stainless steel surfaces. However, a durability of the coatings, when applied to aluminum or stainless steel surfaces, was insufficient to be considered for use on external aircraft surfaces. By including nano-sized and/or micro-sized particles as additives to the coating formulations, resulted in improved durability without significantly reducing ice adhesion performance of the resin base.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2019Publication date: March 12, 2020Inventors: Christopher J. Wohl, Joseph G. Smith, JR., Devon Beck, Lilly Lynn Balderson, Yi Lin
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Publication number: 20190367768Abstract: Embodiments provide ice adhesion mitigating surface coatings and methods for generating the same. Embodiments may provide anti-icing coating with at least one monomeric species exhibiting molecular flexibility. The molecular flexibility in the monomeric species may be imparted through an aliphatic or heteroaliphatic chain that may exist as a portion of the monomer backbone, as a pendant group, or as both the portion of the monomer backbone and the pendant group. In various embodiments epoxy coatings including an epoxy resin and an amine-terminated hardener may be generated. At least a portion of the amine-terminated hardener may include at least a monomeric species that exhibits molecular flexibility arising from an aliphatic chain or heteroaliphatic chain that may be within the polymer backbone and/or may persist as a pendant group.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2019Publication date: December 5, 2019Inventors: Christopher J. Wohl, JR., Joseph G. Smith, JR.
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Patent number: 10377916Abstract: Embodiments provide ice adhesion mitigating surface coatings and methods for generating the same. Embodiments may provide anti-icing coating with at least one monomeric species exhibiting molecular flexibility. The molecular flexibility in the monomeric species may be imparted through an aliphatic or heteroaliphatic chain that may exist as a portion of the monomer backbone, as a pendant group, or as both the portion of the monomer backbone and the pendant group. In various embodiments epoxy coatings including an epoxy resin and an amine-terminated hardener may be generated. At least a portion of the amine-terminated hardener may include at least a monomeric species that exhibits molecular flexibility arising from an aliphatic chain or heteroaliphatic chain that may be within the polymer backbone and/or may persist as a pendant group.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 2016Date of Patent: August 13, 2019Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Administrator of NASAInventors: Christopher J. Wohl, Jr., Joseph G. Smith, Jr.
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Publication number: 20180118702Abstract: Copoly(imide oxetane) materials are disclosed that can exhibit a low surface energy while possessing the mechanical, thermal, chemical and optical properties associated with polyimides. The copoly(imide oxetane)s are prepared using a minor amount of fluorinated oxetane-derived oligomer with sufficient fluorine-containing segments of the copoly(imide oxetane)s migrate to the exterior surface of the polymeric material to yield low surface energies. Thus the coatings and articles of manufacture made with the copoly(imide oxetane)s of this invention are characterized as having an anisotropic fluorine composition. The low surface energies can be achieved with very low content of fluorinated oxetane-derived oligomer. The copolymers of this invention can enhance the viability of polyimides for many applications and may be acceptable where homopolyimide materials have been unacceptable.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 21, 2017Publication date: May 3, 2018Inventors: Christopher J. Wohl, JR., John W. Connell, Emilie J. Siochi, Joseph G. Smith, JR.
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Patent number: 9822088Abstract: Copoly(imide oxetane) materials are disclosed that can exhibit a low surface energy while possessing the mechanical, thermal, chemical and optical properties associated with polyimides. The copoly(imide oxetane)s are prepared using a minor amount of fluorinated oxetane-derived oligomer with sufficient fluorine-containing segments of the copoly(imide oxetane)s that migrate to the exterior surface of the polymeric material to yield low surface energies. Thus the coatings and articles of manufacture made with the copoly(imide oxetane)s of this invention are characterized as having an anisotropic fluorine composition. The low surface energies can be achieved with very low content of fluorinated oxetane-derived oligomer. The copolymers of this invention can enhance the viability of polyimides for many applications and may be acceptable where homopolyimide materials have been unacceptable.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2011Date of Patent: November 21, 2017Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of NASAInventors: Christopher J. Wohl, John W. Connell, Emilie J. Siochi, Joseph G. Smith
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Patent number: 9730396Abstract: A horticultural container filling apparatus has a hopper to selectively dispense soil through an exit. A two-tier strip conveyor assembly has a plurality of narrow conveyor belts coupled to a motor for translating the narrow conveyor belts in a first direction along a first plane below the exit of the hopper. The narrow conveyor belts spaced apart, defining one or more gaps. A plurality of support rails support and guide the narrow conveyor belts along the first plane and are configured to support and convey a container on the narrow conveyor belts in the first direction. The container receives a portion of the soil dispensed from the exit of the hopper, and the gaps pass a remaining portion of soil not received by the container to a second plane below the first plane. A catch conveyor belt along the second plane receives and translates the remaining portion of soil in a second direction along the second plane.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2015Date of Patent: August 15, 2017Assignee: Agrinomix, LLCInventors: Robert N. Lando, George L. Andulics, Joseph G. Smith, Charles M. Kirschner, David W. Joy
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Publication number: 20170058168Abstract: Embodiments provide ice adhesion mitigating surface coatings and methods for generating the same. Embodiments may provide anti-icing coating with at least one monomeric species exhibiting molecular flexibility. The molecular flexibility in the monomeric species may be imparted through an aliphatic or heteroaliphatic chain that may exist as a portion of the monomer backbone, as a pendant group, or as both the portion of the monomer backbone and the pendant group. In various embodiments epoxy coatings including an epoxy resin and an amine-terminated hardener may be generated. At least a portion of the amine-terminated hardener may include at least a monomeric species that exhibits molecular flexibility arising from an aliphatic chain or heteroaliphatic chain that may be within the polymer backbone and/or may persist as a pendant group.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 1, 2016Publication date: March 2, 2017Inventors: Christopher J. Wohl, JR., Joseph G. Smith, JR.