Patents by Inventor Ken Smith
Ken 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: 20070282893Abstract: A system for providing digital content and digital advertisements to users provides digital content via the Internet, in combination with time-shifted advertisements that may be presented by an application that resides on the user's computer. The system may operate in a wholly or partially automated manner, providing automated, self-service interfaces for one or more of the following groups: advertisers, content providers, publishers, and users. The system receives digital advertisement data from advertisers, which can include or consist of a link to an advertiser's website. Advertisers provide compensation based on the presentation of their advertisements to users. The system receives digital content from content providers. Content providers receive compensation when users access digital content provided by content providers. Publishers may access digital content from the system and provide the content to users through one or more user interfaces.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 1, 2007Publication date: December 6, 2007Inventors: Keith Smith, Daniel Todd, York Baur, Todd Sawicki, William McGraw, Ken Smith
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Patent number: 7264876Abstract: The present invention relates to new compositions of matter and articles of manufacture comprising SWNTs as nanometer scale conducting rods dispersed in an electrically-insulating matrix. These compositions of matter have novel and useful electrical, mechanical, and chemical properties including applications in antennas, electromagnetic and electro-optic devices, and high-toughness materials. Other compositions of matter and articles of manufacture are disclosed. including polymer-coated and polymer wrapped single-wall nanotubes (SWNTs), small ropes of polymer-coated and polymer-wrapped SWNTs and materials comprising same. This composition provides one embodiment of the SWNT conducting-rod composite mentioned above, and also enables creation of high-concentration suspensions of SWNTs and compatibilization of SWNTs with polymeric matrices in composite materials.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2001Date of Patent: September 4, 2007Assignee: William Marsh Rice UniversityInventors: Richard E. Smalley, Daniel T. Colbert, Ken A. Smith, Michael O'Connell
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Patent number: 7204970Abstract: The present invention discloses the process of supplying high pressure (e.g., 30 atmospheres) CO that has been preheated (e.g., to about 1000° C.) and a catalyst precursor gas (e.g., Fe(CO)5) in CO that is kept below the catalyst precursor decomposition temperature to a mixing zone. In this mixing zone, the catalyst precursor is rapidly heated to a temperature that results in (1) precursor decomposition, (2) formation of active catalyst metal atom clusters of the appropriate size, and (3) favorable growth of SWNTs on the catalyst clusters. Preferably a catalyst cluster nucleation agency is employed to enable rapid reaction of the catalyst precursor gas to form many small, active catalyst particles instead of a few large, inactive ones. Such nucleation agencies can include auxiliary metal precursors that cluster more rapidly than the primary catalyst, or through provision of additional energy inputs (e.g., from a pulsed or CW laser) directed precisely at the region where cluster formation is desired.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2003Date of Patent: April 17, 2007Assignee: William Marsh Rice UniversityInventors: Richard E. Smalley, Ken A. Smith, Daniel T. Colbert, Pavel Nikolaev, Michael J. Bronikowski, Robert K. Bradley, Frank Rohmund
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Patent number: 7201887Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for growing carbon nanotubes using a catalyst system that preferentially promotes the growth of single- and double-wall carbon nanotubes, rather than larger multi-walled carbon nanotubes. Ropes of the carbon nanotubes are formed that comprise single-wall and/or double-wall carbon nanotubes.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2002Date of Patent: April 10, 2007Assignee: William Marsh Rice UniversityInventors: Richard E. Smalley, Jason H. Hafner, Daniel T. Colbert, Ken Smith
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Publication number: 20070003470Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for growing carbon nanotubes using a catalyst system that preferentially promotes the growth of single- and double-wall carbon nanotubes, rather than larger multi-walled carbon nanotubes. Ropes of the carbon nanotubes are formed that comprise single-wall and/or double-wall carbon nanotubes.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2002Publication date: January 4, 2007Applicant: William Marsh Rice UniversityInventors: Richard Smalley, Jason Hafner, Daniel Colbert, Ken Smith
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Patent number: 7150864Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for growing carbon nanotubes using a catalyst system that preferentially promotes the growth of single- and double-wall carbon nanotubes, rather than larger multi-walled carbon nanotubes. Ropes of the carbon nanotubes are formed that comprise single-wall and/or double-wall carbon nanotubes.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2002Date of Patent: December 19, 2006Assignee: William Marsh Rice UniversityInventors: Richard E. Smalley, Jason H. Hafner, Daniel T. Colbert, Ken A. Smith
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Publication number: 20060253982Abstract: A bed, including a bedframe to support a mattress. The bed includes an electrical communication network.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 17, 2006Publication date: November 16, 2006Inventors: Joseph Kummer, Gregory Branson, Eric Meyer, Brad Wilson, Tanya Taber, Ken Chambers, Mike Frondorf, John Vodzak, Jim Stolpmann, Roger Dalton, Ken Smith, Jeffrey Heyser
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Publication number: 20060227976Abstract: Binaural hearing instrument systems and methods are provided. The binaural hearing instrument system may include communications circuitry that is used to transmit data between left and right hearing instruments. The left and right hearing instruments may include binaural processing circuits that generate left and right audio output signals, respectively, as a function of the signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) of both the left and right audio input signals. The data transmitted between the left and right hearing instruments by the communications circuitry may be used to provide the SNR of the left audio input signal to the right hearing instrument and to provide the SNR of the right audio input signal to the left hearing instrument. In one example, the data transmitted between the left and right hearing instruments may include audio signals that may be used to determine the SNRs of the left and right audio input signals.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 7, 2005Publication date: October 12, 2006Inventors: Brian Csermak, Philippe Pango, James Ryan, Ken Smith
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Patent number: 7108841Abstract: This invention relates generally to forming a patterned array of single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNT). In one embodiment, a nanoscale array of microwells is provided on a substrate; a metal catalyst is deposited in each microwells; and a stream of hydrocarbon or CO feedstock gas is directed at the substrate under conditions that effect growth of single-wall carbon nanotubes from each microwell.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2001Date of Patent: September 19, 2006Assignee: William Marsh Rice UniversityInventors: Richard E. Smalley, Daniel T. Colbert, Hongjie Dai, Jie Liu, Andrew G. Rinzler, Jason H. Hafner, Ken Smith, Ting Guo, Pavel Nikolaev, Andreas Thess
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Patent number: 7076818Abstract: A patient support or bed is disclosed having a frame, a mattress, and a plurality of siderails. A detector is disclosed that detects a position of a siderail relative to a portion of the bed.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2003Date of Patent: July 18, 2006Assignee: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.Inventors: Joseph A. Kummer, Gregory W. Branson, Eric R. Meyer, Brad Wilson, Tanya Taber, Ken Chambers, Mike Frondorf, John Vodzak, Jim Stolpmann, Roger Dalton, Ken Smith, Jeffrey A. Heyser
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Publication number: 20060081398Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for coring a borehole in a hard rock sidewall of a well bore in a subterranean formation for testing purposes. The apparatus includes a drive motor for operation down hole, a flexible drive shaft coupled to the drive motor and a coring bit coupled to the flexible drive shaft, such that the coring bit is directly driven by the drive motor. The apparatus also includes a control circuit for controlling advancement of the coring bit into the subterranean formation. The apparatus also includes a rotating carousel for storing multiple core samples. The method includes the steps of activating the drive motor to rotate the output shaft; coupling the output shaft of the drive motor to the flexible drive shaft and rotating the coring bit with the flexible drive shaft.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 20, 2004Publication date: April 20, 2006Inventors: Abbas Arian, Bruce Mackay, Randall Jones, Ken Smith, Wes Ludwig
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Patent number: 7008563Abstract: The present invention relates to new compositions of matter and articles of manufacture comprising SWNTs as nanometer scale conducting rods dispersed in an electrically-insulating matrix. These compositions of matter have novel and useful electrical, mechanical, and chemical properties including applications in antennas, electromagnetic and electro-optic devices, and high-toughness materials. Other compositions of matter and articles of manufacture are disclosed, including polymer-coated and polymer wrapped single-wall nanotubes (SWNTs), small ropes of polymer-coated and polymer-wrapped SWNTs and materials comprising same. This composition provides one embodiment of the SWNT conducting-rod composite mentioned above, and also enables creation of high-concentration suspensions of SWNTs and compatibilization of SWNTs with polymeric matrices in composite materials.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2001Date of Patent: March 7, 2006Assignee: William Marsh Rice UniversityInventors: Richard E. Smalley, Daniel T. Colbert, Ken A. Smith, Michael O'Connell
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Publication number: 20050249656Abstract: This invention relates generally to forming a patterned array of single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNT). In one embodiment, a nanoscale array of microwells is provided on a substrate; a metal catalyst is deposited in each microwells; and a stream of hydrocarbon or CO feedstock gas is directed at the substrate under conditions that effect growth of single-wall carbon nanotubes from each microwell.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2001Publication date: November 10, 2005Applicant: William Marsh Rice UniversityInventors: Richard Smalley, Daniel Colbert, Hongjie Dai, Jie Liu, Andrew Rinzler, Jason Hafner, Ken Smith, Ting Guo, Pavel Nikolaev, Andreas Thess
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Publication number: 20050244327Abstract: Single-walled carbon nanotubes have been synthesized by the catalytic decomposition of both carbon monoxide and ethylene over a supported metal catalyst known to produce larger multi-walled nanotubes. Under certain conditions, there is no termination of nanotube growth, and production appears to be limited only by the diffusion of reactant gas through the product nanotube mat that covers the catalyst The present invention concerns a catalyst-substrate system which promotes the growth of nanotubes that are predominantly single-walled tubes in a specific size range, rather than the large irregular-sized multi-walled carbon fibrils that are known to grow from supported catalysts.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2002Publication date: November 3, 2005Applicant: William Marsh Rice UniversityInventors: Richard Smalley, Jason Hafner, Daniel Colbert, Ken Smith
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Patent number: 6875412Abstract: This invention is directed to making chemical derivatives of carbon nanotubes and to uses for the derivatized nanotubes, including making arrays as a basis for synthesis of carbon fibers. In one embodiment, this invention also provides a method for preparing single wall carbon nanotubes having substituents attached to the side wall of the nanotube by reacting single wall carbon nanotubes with fluorine gas and recovering fluorine derivatized carbon nanotubes, then reacting fluorine derivatized carbon nanotubes with a nucleophile. Some of the fluorine substituents are replaced by nucleophilic substitution. If desired, the remaining fluorine can be completely or partially eliminated to produce single wall carbon nanotubes having substituents attached to the side wall of the nanotube. The substituents will, of course, be dependent on the nucleophile, and preferred nucleophiles include alkyl lithium species such as methyl lithium.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2001Date of Patent: April 5, 2005Assignee: William Marsh Rice UniversityInventors: John L. Margrave, Edward T. Mickelson, Robert Hauge, Peter Boul, Chad Huffman, Jie Liu, Richard E. Smalley, Ken Smith, Daniel T. Colbert
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Patent number: 6841139Abstract: This invention is directed to making chemical derivatives of carbon nanotubes and to uses for the derivatized nanotubes, including making arrays as a basis for synthesis of carbon fibers. In one embodiment, this invention also provides a method for preparing single wall carbon nanotubes having substituents attached to the side wall of the nanotube by reacting single wall carbon nanotubes with fluorine gas and recovering fluorine derivatized carbon nanotubes, then reacting fluorine derivatized carbon nanotubes with a nucleophile. Some of the fluorine substituents are replaced by nucleophilic substitution. If desired, the remaining fluorine can be completely or partially eliminated to produce single wall carbon nanotubes having substituents attached to the side wall of the nanotube. The substituents will, of course, be dependent on the nucleophile, and preferred nucleophiles include alkyl lithium species such as methyl lithium.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2001Date of Patent: January 11, 2005Assignee: William Marsh Rice UniversityInventors: John L. Margrave, Edward T. Mickelson, Robert Hauge, Peter Boul, Chad Huffman, Jie Liu, Richard E. Smalley, Ken Smith, Daniel T. Colbert
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Patent number: 6835366Abstract: This invention is directed to making chemical derivatives of carbon nanotubes and to uses for the derivatized nanotubes, including making arrays as a basis for synthesis of carbon fibers. In one embodiment, this invention also provides a method for preparing single wall carbon nanotubes having substituents attached to the side wall of the nanotube by reacting single wall carbon nanotubes with fluorine gas and recovering fluorine derivatized carbon nanotubes, then reacting fluorine derivatized carbon nanotubes with a nucleophile. Some of the fluorine substituents are replaced by nucleophilic substitution. If desired, the remaining fluorine can be completely or partially eliminated to produce single wall carbon nanotubes having substituents attached to the side wall of the nanotube. The substituents will, of course, be dependent on the nucleophile, and preferred nucleophiles include alkyl lithium species such as methyl lithium.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2001Date of Patent: December 28, 2004Assignee: William Marsh Rice UniversityInventors: John L. Margrave, Edward T. Mickelson, Robert Hauge, Peter Boul, Chad Huffman, Jie Liu, Richard E. Smalley, Ken Smith, Daniel T. Colbert
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Patent number: 6827918Abstract: This invention is directed to making chemical derivatives of carbon nanotubes and to uses for the derivatized nanotubes, including making arrays as a basis for synthesis of carbon fibers. In one embodiment, this invention also provides a method for preparing single wall carbon nanotubes having substituents attached to the side wall of the nanotube by reacting single wall carbon nanotubes with fluorine gas and recovering fluorine derivatized carbon nanotubes, then reacting fluorine derivatized carbon nanotubes with a nucleophile. Some of the fluorine substituents are replaced by nucleophilic substitution. If desired, the remaining fluorine can be completely or partially eliminated to produce single wall carbon nanotubes having substituents attached to the side wall of the nanotube. The substituents will, of course, be dependent on the nucleophile, and preferred nucleophiles include alkyl lithium species such as methyl lithium.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2001Date of Patent: December 7, 2004Assignee: William Marsh Rice UniversityInventors: John L. Margrave, Edward T. Mickelson, Robert Hauge, Peter Boul, Chad Huffman, Jie Liu, Richard E. Smalley, Ken Smith, Daniel T. Colbert
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Publication number: 20040223901Abstract: The present invention discloses the process of supplying high pressure (e.g., 30 atmospheres) CO that has been preheated (e.g., to about 1000° C.) and a catalyst precursor gas (e.g., Fe(CO)5) in CO that is kept below the catalyst precursor decomposition temperature to a mixing zone. In this mixing zone, the catalyst precursor is rapidly heated to a temperature that results in (1) precursor decomposition, (2) formation of active catalyst metal atom clusters of the appropriate size, and (3) favorable growth of SWNTs on the catalyst clusters. Preferably a catalyst cluster nucleation agency is employed to enable rapid reaction of the catalyst precursor gas to form many small, active catalyst particles instead of a few large, inactive ones. Such nucleation agencies can include auxiliary metal precursors that cluster more rapidly than the primary catalyst, or through provision of additional energy inputs (e.g., from a pulsed or CW laser) directed precisely at the region where cluster formation is desired.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 8, 2003Publication date: November 11, 2004Applicant: William Marsh Rice UniversityInventors: Richard E. Smalley, Ken A. Smith, Daniel T. Colbert, Pavel Nikolaev, Michael J. Bronikowski, Robert K. Bradley, Frank Rohmund
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Publication number: 20040186220Abstract: The present invention relates to new compositions of matter and articles of manufacture comprising SWNTs as nanometer scale conducting rods dispersed in an electrically-insulating matrix. These compositions of matter have novel and useful electrical, mechanical, and chemical properties including applications in antennas, electromagnetic and electro-optic devices, and high-toughness materials. Other compositions of matter and articles of manufacture are disclosed including polymer-coated and polymer wrapped single-wall nanotubes (SWNTs), small ropes of polymer-coated and polymer-wrapped SWNTs and materials comprising same. This composition provides one embodiment of the SWNT conducting-rod composite mentioned above, and also enables creation of high-concentration suspensions of SWNTs and compatibilization of SWNTs with polymeric matrices in composite materials.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 12, 2004Publication date: September 23, 2004Applicant: William Marsh Rice UniversityInventors: Richard E. Smalley, Daniel T. Colbert, Ken A. Smith, Michael O'Connell